Elgin Park has eyes on provincial prize
BIG GOALS: Longtime teammates are on a roll as they prepare for B.C. Triple A girls soccer championships
Back in her ninth-grade year at Surrey’s Elgin Park Secondary, Sally Matthews can remember her principal talking about the future promise that both she and the rest of the school’s Class of 2015 could have if they ever decided to put together a determined effort on the soccer pitch.
“He said a few years ago that in our grad year, that we could win the Fraser Valley championships and the provincials,” Matthews recollected earlier this week of principal and team co-coach Bruce Filsinger, words which have come to stand as goals for a team filled with senior character and skill.
“Remembering that, it’s funny how we have been able to do so well this season,” Matthews said.
So well, in fact, that Elgin Park has won 11 of its 12 matches, including most recently, a 3-1 victory over the crosstown rival Panorama Ridge Thunder in the Fraser Valley championship final on May 14.
So now, with the B.C. Triple A championships set to begin one week from Thursday in Victoria, it’s one down and one to go.
Yet nothing about the road to a potential title, including the top provincial ranking that the Orcas wrested away from the Thunder, is going to be easy.
In fact, just trying to be the last Surrey team standing is going to be tough because there is little to choose between Elgin Park, Panorama Ridge and defending B.C. champion Fleetwood Park. That much has been stated by the fact there has been a new No. 1 in each of the last four B.C. polls, and over that span, all three Surrey schools have taken turns in the top spot.
“All the teams that qualified have a serious shot at winning the provincials,” said Fleetwood Park head coach Sunny Uppal, whose charges were identical third-place finishers from the Fraser Valley last season en route to winning it all. “Just getting to B.C.’s is so hard, and we are fortunate to make it there again. Hopefully, with the experience we have, we can make a good run again.”
Yet there is a train of thought that this is the Orcas’ year. Along with its senior core, which includes Jillian Filsinger and Brooklyn Tidder, are Grade 11s Livia Jennings and Molly Ashley, Grade 10 Danielle Steer and Grade 9 Gabe Jillings. It’s the deepest Orcas squad since 2010 when future Oregon State and Head of the Class honouree Jenna Richardson graced the roster.
“Elgin Park’s depth is better than anyone I have seen,” remarked Stephen Burns, the veteran coach with the South Delta Sun Devils who has qualified his team for provincials for a remarkable 14th straight season. “They can put different players in and nothing changes.”
But don’t discount Dr. Charles Best of Coquitlam, R.A. McMath of Richmond or Victoria’s Oak Bay and Stelly’s, all among a pack of contenders with a solid chance to strike gold.
Over at Elgin Park, however, the Orcas are hopeful their camaraderie will count for a lot in the pressure games.
“I have to say good things have happened because we have such a positive mindset,” said Brooklyn Tidder, a versatile senior and tri-sport standout who, after helping the school’s volleyball and basketball teams reach B.C. tournaments, is now off to her third provincial tournament in six months.
“For me, this season has been such a unique experience, to play with your friends in high school that you have grown up with,” said Tidder, who scored two of her team’s goals in the Fraser Valley title win and next season suits up for the CIS soccer powerhouse Trinity Western Spartans. “We all want to work for each other.”
Adds Bruce Filsinger, who cocoaches the team with Chris Ellett and Tom Johnson: “You just go out and play. If anything, the coaching staff has tried to instil that anyone can beat anyone. It’s going to come down to who is going to give it their all and play as a team.”