Right side of the result
Charlottetown Rural wins senior A boys’ soccer championship one year after losing in final
CORNWALL – This time, the Charlottetown Rural Team Two Raiders had the opportunity to experience the thrill of victory.
The Raiders pulled out a hard-fought 2-1 victory over the Colonel Gray Team Two Colonels in an all-Charlottetown battle in the P.E.I. School Athletic Association Senior A Boys Soccer League championship game on Saturday afternoon. The victory was extra special for the returning members of the Raiders after Charlottetown Rural lost in the 2019 provincial final to Montague.
“There are a lot of boys from last year (who are back this year),” said Raiders head coach Ian Barnes. “We had a young side last year, and the boys wanted to enjoy being on the right side of the result (this year). I am pumped for them. It was awesome.”
At the Terry Fox Sports Complex in Cornwall, Nathan Bruce gave Rural a 1-0 lead just four minutes into the game off a free kick from about 28 yards out.
“(That goal) was so important,” said Raiders’ player-of-the-game Jaden Doyle, a 16-year-old Grade 11 forward. “It helped us build our confidence, helped us build our momentum and fired us up for the rest of the game.”
Doyle, who was a member of the 2019 Raiders, said winning the provincial championship feels brilliant.
The Raiders took a 1-0 lead into halftime. Ethan Keough scored on a tap-in from the six-yard box in the 51st minute to increase Charlottetown Rural’s lead to 2-0.
“It was a good game, and both teams played hard and worked really well,” said Barnes. “We started the game well and had control of the ball.”
Barnes said the Raiders’ second goal was very important because it provided a cushion.
“That allowed us to relax a little bit and play the football we want to play,” said Rural’s head coach.
LATE GOAL
The Colonels refused to quit, and a goal by player-ofthe-game Izzidor Hatungi in the 88th minute set the stage for an exciting finish.
Colonels head coach Nelson Edomobi felt Rural’s first goal of the game was a turning point.
“They had momentum, and we were trying to catch up,” said Edomobi.
Overall, Edomobi felt it was a good game and credited the Raiders.
“The other team showed up ready to play,” he said. “I guess it is what it is.”
Connor McGuirk was the winning keeper.
INTENSE ACTION
Doyle said the action on the field was “really intense.” He wasn’t surprised the game went right down to the wire.
Barnes described the Raiders as a “skillful bunch” and said the team’s style of play is to get the ball down the field, move it around and play aggressive.
“They like to play proper soccer, and that’s what we try to infuse in them, to get the ball wide and try to use the ball as often as possible,” said Barnes.
It has been a season of progression for the Raiders, said Barnes, who felt his team peaked at the right time.
“I thought they played positively, they looked calm most of the game and we have played these guys three times this year and I thought that was the best we played,” said Barnes.
“We have been building all year to getting better and better. (Saturday), I was pleased, and they played well.”