P.E.I. HOSTING CANADA UNDER-17 SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIPS
Island squad looking to gain energy from crowd at under-17 boys’ nationals in Charlottetown, Cornwall
Kyle Connell and Elias Bitar have played for P.E.I. F.C. for four years, have attended three nationals and are ready for another.
But this one will be different. There’s no heading to the airport or travelling across the Confederation Bridge required.
They’re the home team for the Canada Soccer Toyota National Championships Under-17 Cup, which is being held in Cornwall and Charlottetown.
“It’s exciting this year,” Bitar said Tuesday night at UPEI, one of the venues being used to host the games. “There’s going to be a lot more people you know (attending the games). It’s a bigger crowd for you.”
The team might also have a bit of a home-turf advantage.
“There’s definitely some odd spots where you get some lucky bounces and unlucky bounces,” said Connell, standing along the sidelines at UPEI as the university’s men’s team practised Tuesday evening. “I think we know where most of those are since we practised here all summer.”
Bitar, a 17-year-old centre midfielder from Charlottetown, noted it also knows the speed of the turf, but every team will pick that up quickly.
The action began Wednesday but the Island squad had its off day. It’s set up based on a formula using last year’s finishes to set this year’s schedule.
P.E.I. F.C. played well in 2018, losing 2-0 and 3-1 to Saskatchewan and Manitoba, respectively, in preliminary round action. It went 2-1 in the seeding pool to finish ninth.
About half of the roster is back and looking for a strong showing this time around.
The Island squad has been hampered with injuries in the past but is healthy heading into the biggest week of the season. Through the year the team had to sometimes play people out of position, but that experience could prove invaluable at nationals as P.E.I. F.C. now has its deepest roster of the year.
“We’ve got a full 18-person roster and I think that depth is valuable,” head coach Andrew Bartlett said.
“I’ve told the boys, ‘You’re in a war of attrition here. You’re playing five games in five days. It’s not necessarily the best team that wins this tournament. It can be the team that can stay healthy and not try to be too fancy come Day 4 and 5 when you have people that are tired. . .
“There’s no style points come Sunday and Monday when you’re playing for your positions.”
The team has played well offensively throughout the summer and constantly improved defensively.
“I’ve always felt it’s tougher to find goals than stop goals,” Caudle said. “I’d rather lose games 4-3 at the start of the year, knowing you can win them 3-1 at the end.”
Bitar said the squad is a tight group with much familiarity.
“All through U-12 and stuff, we played each other, but ever since we hit U-15 with provincial soccer, we really came together,” added Connell, a 17-year-old forward from Charlottetown.
P.E.I. F.C. plays St. John’s S.C. from Newfoundland and Labrador today at 3:45 p.m. at UPEI.
A quick start can get the team going on the right foot during a tournament like this.
“We’re all going to be pretty excited and wound up, so I’d say the first is going to be a little scrambly and fast,” said Connell, noting the experience it has will allow the team to quickly settle in.