It isn’t how you get there, some say, but just arriving is the important thing.
Either way, the Burnaby North senior girls soccer team are showing that their automatic berth to the provincial AAA championships isn’t being taken for granted.
The Vikings demonstrated that their ticket as hosts is also valid as true competitors, following a well-played 3-1 victory over the New Westminster Hyacks in the district final on Tuesday.
“The girls came to play in the playoffs as they were playing for pride, and also to show that they deserve to be in the provincials,” Burnaby North coach Deborah Peters said.
In a season where only three of nine schools fielded teams and a handful of games was decided by forfeits, the final turned on a couple of well-struck shots by Burnaby’s Michaela Filippelli in the first half. She opened the scoring before the game was 10 minutes old by finishing off a corner kick.
New West’s Christine Singh tied it three minutes later on an impressive blast to the top corner from a tight angle. But Filippelli restored the lead by capitalizing on a broken play. Wrapping up the offence was the Vikings’ Kaylee Malli, late in the first half.
“(Burnaby) North was the better team in the first half, and we were better in the second, but we just didn’t have enough to finish it,” remarked New West coach Wayne McCarthy.
New West was without on-field leader Nisa Reehal, a Grade 10 forward, due to a nagging injury. But the contest mirrored the teams’ previous encounter. In the season opener, Burnaby North was without the services of Filippelli, who suffered a broken nose while anchoring the squad’s strong showing at a UBC tournament.
“Our veteran players stepped up and played with heart and determination for their last league banner game,” said Peters. “Every girl came to play. They played as a team, selflessly and for each other.”
Picking up game MVP awards were Ashley Bristow, Alyssa Sommer and Filippelli.
The victory gave the school district titles for both senior boys and girls teams over the current school year.
The Vikings to to North Van on Monday for a crossover game against the winner of Sentinel and Handsworth.
