Region’s U-13 soccer all-stars finish fourth and fifth at provincial tournament

Soccer Estrie girls and boys U13 teams had a busy week at the Regional Selection Tournament in Lachute last week. The July 27-Aug. 1 tournament brought together the best players in that age grade in Quebec.

The U-13 girls lost the bronze medal game on Saturday after a close 3-2 battle with the Outaouais. The Outaouais set the pace of the game scoring their first goal within the first five minutes but Estrie equalized on a penalty kick by Stacy Martin. Another Outaouais goal was matched when Eliane Duplessis found the back of the net as the first half finished 2-2. A goal near the end of regulation locked in the win for the Gatineau-area team.

The Estrie had finished second in their pool with a record of 1-1-1; they beating Bourassa 1-0, lost to Centre du Quebec 10, and finished pool play with a 0-0 draw with Saguenay Lac-StJean Friday.

The region’s boys team took home fifth place in their tournament, beating Saguenay LacSt-Jean on penalty kicks after regulation and overtime ended in a 1-1 draw. Saguenay took an early lead in the 23rd minute. However, the captain JeanMalik Elmi, tied the game on a 40th-minute penalty.

The boys also finished pool play at 1-1-1, but were third in their pool. They started with a 2-2 draw against Chaudiere-Appalaches on Tuesday and defeated Centre du Quebec 3-1 on Wednesday before losing 2-0 to Outaouais on Friday.

The tournament is an important venue for promising young soccer players to be seen by the provincial team scouts, particularly for the Soccer Estrie teams, who play in Division 2.