Herbert soccer players learning the game as they go

The Herbert Laurels soccer team is getting a late introduction to a new sport but are hoping to have a strong finish later this month.

The school has started a girls high school soccer team and will compete in the SHSAA 1A category in the provincial playoffs. Sebastian Prost is at the helm of the new team and believed that it is the first soccer team in Herbert in approximately two decades.

Prost hails from Yorkton originally and is now in his first year of teaching and coaching in Herbert. Prost played club and high school soccer in Yorkton before coaching in Yorkton and in Regina with the U.C.T. Soccer Club.

“We had another teacher on staff who was looking at offering soccer and using it for conditioning for the basketball season. We thought let’s give it a try and see how many sign up.

“We got enough together for a seven versus seven squad,” he explained.

His team includes only one player with previous soccer experience, but they have faced other obstacles as well.

“We’ve had to purchase a lot of the equipment this year, the game balls and jerseys. The field of course, we had to purchase some netting and get the field set up. Then just making sure that we had enough girls that not only signed up, but were committed to being there, because you can’t have a team if there is nobody to play.”

The Laurels got their first taste of game action in 7v7 games against members of the Swift Current Comp. Ardens on October 2 and 5. The Ardens are the defending 3A provincial silver medalists and outscored their Moose Jaw League opponents 62-1 this season.

“I think a lot of the girls have started to realize that it is not an easy game. You need to hustle all the time, you need to be on top and stay sharp. We had a steep learning curve our first game, which I think was reflected in our second game, which is good to see,” said Prost after Saturday’s game in Swift Current.

The Laurels scored their first goal against the Ardens on a free kick from 20 yards out early in Saturday’s contest.

“I think from here on in we can only improve. That’s what we are going for, we see it as a building year. If we do really well then it is only so much the better.”

The Laurels planned to play a game this week in Outlook against LCBI. They also planned to visit Caronport on October 16.

They will take part in 1A Regionals on October 19 in Outlook.

They were hoping to use the match against LCBI as a measuring stick for where they would stack up in the provincial playoff scene.

Herbert is grouped in Regionals with Chief Paskwa, Outlook, and LCBI.

The top two teams will advance to the Provincial Finals hosted in Lake Lenore.

The Herbert Laurels’ girls’ soccer team has faced a steep learning curve in its debut season.