The Earl Marriott senior girls soccer squad is headed to provincials in AAA action — for the first time in two decades. EMS athletic director Russ Heggie said both the junior and senior Mariners girls soccer teams had an excellent year, with both finishing second in their divisions before competing in the South Fraser zone championships, where the seniors earned their first berth in girls soccer provincials since 2004. “We were able to involve a lot of the junior team in senior team games.
I think a lot of credit goes to the support (of) the junior team ...
they were able to give us some more depth,” Heggie said Tuesday (May 21). He noted a core group of players who also play club-level soccer as well as other sports, in addition to academics and other extra-curricular activities, made a commitment to play this year, and that was likely a factor. Although the junior team lost to Sullivan Heights in the South Fraser tournament, the senior team won the last AAA spot to provincials with an exciting 2-1 extra time win over their Fleetwood rivals.
‘As a result of their hard work — fortunately, for the final game — the senior team won in extra time in dramatic fashion against Fleetwood Park,” Heggie said. The score for the game was 1-0 until about the last 10 minutes, when Mia Louden scored a “beautiful left-footed shot from about 35 yards out and managed to put it top corner.” Grade 9 goalkeeper Arwynn Houchen was an extremely strong presence in goal, Heggie note.
