The senior boys’ soccer team travelled to Victoria this past weekend to play in the ISA Championships.  Last year, the Cavs returned home with the bronze medal.  This year, they were hoping for gold.

Collingwood opened pool play with a 5-0 win over Shawnigan Lake.  They followed this up with a 4-0 win over West Point Grey Academy.  In both these games, the Cavs were completely in control.

Collingwood’s final game on Friday was against Glenlyon-Norfolk.  The Cavs were not sharp in this game at all.  It was clear they had taken their opponents far too lightly.  At halftime, it was 0-0 and things looked fairly bleak when the Gryphons scored to make it 1-0 with only eight minutes left in the game.  However, the Cavs rallied with three quick goals to assure themselves of a perfect record heading into Saturday.

On Saturday morning, the Cavs faced the host school, St. Michaels University School (SMUS).  The winner of this game was guaranteed a spot in the gold medal match.  Collingwood took a quick 2-0 lead, but SMUS charged back to tie the game early in the second half.  However, the Cavs kept their composure and once again finished with a flourish as they scored 3 unanswered to goals to book their place in the championship game.

In the final, Collingwood faced last year’s BC AAA Champions, St. George’s.  The Dragons are loaded with talent so this was truly a great opponent. 

In the first half, both teams had fantastic opportunities, but neither team could score.  It appeared that the game would be tied 0-0 at half, when Saints were awarded a free-kick with a mere 20 seconds to play.  A nice cross was volleyed into the net leaving Collingwood’s goalie Charles B with no chance.

Down 1-0, the Cavs pushed for the equalizer.  Ten minutes in, David S smashed a shot on goal that seemed destined to tie the game, but the Saints keeper made a terrific save.  Minutes later, the Cavs lost the ball deep in the offensive end and the Dragons counter-attacked with lethal accuracy and scored a second ‘cracking’ goal.

Despite the loss, the team played some excellent soccer throughout the tournament and now will focus on their North Shore league matches.  First up is the big West Van private school ‘derby’ against Mulgrave tomorrow afternoon.

Reese F had a fantastic tournament.  Not only was he rock-solid at the back for Collingwood, but he scored three penalties.