(August 22, 2016)
Alberta Soccer’s Servus Tier I to Nationals competition was held this past weekend in Calgary at the Calgary Soccer Centre. The competition represented the last time that U14, U16 and U18 age groups would qualify for the national competition given Canada Soccer’s change to age groups. Next year will see just two age groups qualify: U15 and U17.
Despite the extremely hot weather in Calgary, soccer fans were treated to an entertaining weekend of soccer capped off by an exciting final day of games that would determine provincial champions and Alberta representatives at Nationals.
U14 Boys
A hard fought game between both St. Albert Impact and Foothills Soccer Club would need penalty kicks to solve a 0-0 stalemate at the end of regulation and extra time. St. Albert were the the victors after six penalty kicks from each team. St. Albert will now head to Moncton for the U14 club national championships.
Gold: St. Albert Impact Silver: Calgary Foothills 02 Bronze: Juventus Booster Juice Fair Play: Calgary West Palmeiras
U14 Girls
The second final that would feature St. Albert vs Foothills saw the Calgary based team execute a clinical performance to beat a very strong St. Albert side 2-0 after goals from Penny Molloy and Jayden Berg. Foothills 02 will join the St. Albert boys in Moncton, NB for nationals.
Gold: Calgary Foothills 02 Silver: St. Albert Impact Bronze: Calgary SWU Premiers 02 Booster Juice Fair Play: Edmonton Millwoods Selects
U16 Boys
In a repeat from the 2014 U14 Boys final, Edmonton Juventus and Calgary Foothills returned to face eachother, this time, with a different result. Juventus’ speed and clinical finishing proved to be too much on the day for a strong Foothills team. Gary Onyejelem and Ibo Jetishi provided the goals in a 2-0 win for Juventus as they go on to nationals in Lethbridge.
Gold: Edmonton Juventus Silver: Calgary Foothills FC Bronze: Calgary CNS Hurricanes Booster Juice Fair Play: Calgary CNS Hurricanes
U16 Girls
The top two teams from this competition were always going to qualify for the National Championships in Lethbridge. Sunday’s final was to decide provincial championships and their seeding. Despite Edmonton Scottish’s brave play, Calgary Foothills 01 was still riding high from their national championship last year and they produced another decisive performance in a 3-1 win over Scottish. An impressive hat trick from Alison Pedersen helped to give Foothills the win with an opposing goal from Scottish player Mackenna Parks.
Gold: Calgary Foothills 01 Silver: Edmonton Scottish Bronze: Sherwood Park Phoenix Booster Juice Fair Play: Sherwood Park Phoenix
U18 Boys
A tightly contested affair between Calgary rivals Foothills and Southwest United would only be solved by a last minute penalty shot at the end of regulation. Both teams were stifled by the late afternoon heat but would still put in an entertaining performance against one another. It was a game that seemed destined for extra time and penalties but a late handball in the 18 yard box would present a prime opportunity for Calgary Foothills to qualify for Nationals in Vaughan, ON as provincial champions. Caleb Johnson was decisive in slotting home the winner.
Gold: Calgary Foothills FC Silver: Calgary SWU Spartans Bronze: Edmonton Southwest United Booster Juice Fair Play: Edmonton Drillers
U18 Girls
It was an all Edmonton affair as the two top teams in their district league would face off against one another for the provincial final. Edmonton Internazionale and Edmonton Strikers were only separated by one point in district league play but the provincial gold medal match belonged to Edmonton Inter on this day. Two goals from Rebecca Stienwand and one from Megan Bogden in addition to a Strikers own goal would cap a 4-0 win for Inter and a return to the national championships in Vaughan, ON.
Gold: Edmonton Inter Silver: Edmonton Strikers Bronze: Calgary Blizzard Ajax Booster Juice Fair Play: Edmonton Strikers
Thank you to all teams, coaches and officials for a great weekend of Tier I soccer. We would also like to thank Calgary Minor Soccer and the Calgary Soccer Centre for hosting this competition.
Canada Soccer Club National Championships Participants
U14: St. Albert Impact Boys and Foothills 02 Girls
U16: Edmonton Juventus Boys, Foothills 01 Girls and Edmonton Scottish Girls
U18: Foothills FC Boys and Edmonton Internazionale