Roadrunners reel in Colonist Cup
Reid Adams of the Reynolds Roadrunners is busy sorting through U Sports offers to play next season at UVic, UBC or UNBC. Before he launches himself into the next stage of his soccer journey, Adams launched a corner kick Monday that concluded his high school career in fine fashion.
Adams’ kick went in for an Oak Bay own goal at three minutes and it was all the Roadrunners would need for a 1-0 victory over the host Bays in the Colonist Cup final.
That, and the stellar shutout goaltending of Jacob Renyard, who truly earned his clean sheet.
It ended a strange season for the Roadrunners, who were the 2016 B.C. Triple-A champions and third in the province last year. Reynolds, however, did not make it to the B.C. tournament this season after a shocking upset at the hands of the Royal Bay Ravens in the Island championship tournament.
But it is a long tradition in soccer that several cup competitions run concurrently during a season. So the Roadrunners contented themselves with the Colonist Cup title. It is the Lower Island high school version of the FA Cup, and over the years its playdowns have featured the likes of World Cup players Ian Bridge of Vic High and George Pakos of Esquimalt and other much-capped Canadian internationals such as Brian Robinson from Vic High and Bob Bolitho of Mount View.
Now Adams, Renyard and the Roadrunners added another chapter to that rich tradition.
“This was redemption for losing in the Islands, and a nice way to finish off my high school career,” said Adams, who plays youth soccer for the Vancouver Island Wave and in men’s with Lakehill of the VISL First Division.
“Winning the provincials would have been the top thing — but it [upsets] happen — and at least we won something. We deserved it.”
It’s more than just “something.” The Colonist Cup has a tradition that goes back to 1942 when Vic High was the first victor.
“We had our ups and downs this season, so it’s great to finish off this way,” said Reynolds head coach J.J. Atterbury.
“We dug deep and battled. Our guys really wanted this Cup, which has so much history behind it, and I am so proud of our players.”