Despite strike, high school soccer continues on smaller scale

Although the high school boys premiere soccer division only has four teams right now due to the Rainbow board strike, the players that are taking to the field are not about to complain.

"We're really happy that there's still a league, that we are even able to play," said Sam Michel, a third-year player with the Collège Notre-Dame Alouettes.

"We have St. Ben's, which is really good competition. We always enjoy playing against them, it's always a good game. Even St. Charles - that was a pretty tough game. The score doesn't really show it, but they played a good game."

Although not all of the teams are lacing up right now, competition remains fierce.

The Alouettes boys soccer team picked up their first win of the year on Thursday, blanking the St. Charles College Cardinals 3-0.

On one hand, the squad can boast more club players than any of the other three teams in the league.

On the other hand, the group is rounded out by friends of the soccer folk, some of whom have little to no prior introduction to the beautiful game.

"We have a lot of older players that play competitive on the '98 Impact team, a lot of leadership," noted Michel.

"But we have lots of new guys too, so we get to coach them on the field, which is always a fun time. Some of these guys have never played soccer.

"We teach them how to do throw-ins, we teach them where to set-up on the field. I play a lot with the backs, the defenders, showing them when to pressure the ball, when to stay back."

It was a mixture of both worlds that helped lead CND to victory against the Cards. Long-time club player Sebastien Dugas-Ruest scored a pair of second half goals to pave the way for the Alouettes, joined on the scoresheet by Mathieu Kingsley, known far more for his hockey goaltending skills than his fancy-footwork on the pitch.

Hunter Adams, a top notch young keeper with the Impact, recorded the shutout as Notre-Dame improved to 1-1, tied with the St. Charles lads. The above-noted St. Benedict Bears picked up their second win of the year, upending the Macdonald-Cartier Panthères 6-0.

Brandon Moxam and Josh Rancourt scored two goals apiece for the winners, with Curtis Carpino and Ryan Phillips rounding out the attack. The first game of the day would see the Notre-Dame Alouette girls pull away from the Marymount Regals in the second half, posting a 2-0 triumph.

Brianne Rodrigue took care of all of the scoring for CND, with Josée Scott recording the whitewash in net.

SDSSAA soccer action resumes on Monday, as Second Division play commences at the James Jerome Sports Complex.