CSS Sports

⚽️🌧🌧Okanagans Day 1🌧🌧⚽️
From qualifying in the Kamloops heat last Thursday, the CSS girls soccer team had complete opposite weather conditions to deal with today in Lake Country. Woeful, wet, windy weather during their first game against Vernon Christian School took away the spirit from another resolute performance.

In the opening exchanges, CSS looked dangerous and had an early chance when Bailey R delivered a peach of a ball into the box which just evaded 3 running Raiders. Vernon played some tidy soccer, but the CSS defense made them work hard to get close to their goal. Mia R stood her ground on multiple occassions and denied the Vernon forwards chances to go forwars. Vernon did get the breakthrough with a lovely strike from distance and were able to get another from distance shortly after to lead 2-0 at the break. Two goals that we could do little about.

In the second half, and with a few changes to their line up, CSS threatened with Aubrey F and Keeley Y up top. Anna-Jean R dropped into midfield for the first time and didn't look out of place as she hustled after every ball. Vernon scored twice more, but Raiders battled right to the very end. In the last second of the game Teigan D-R was bundled down in the box and CSS were awarded a penalty. Bailey R stepped up with the last kick of the game and found the bottom corner to see the game end 4-1.

After warming up, drying off (hah) and eating on the bus, CSS changed into their dry, red jerseys and took to the field against fellow league opponents St. Ann's for the third time this year. Little did they know it, but the girls were about to put in their biggest, grittiest, and proudest performance of the season. From the first whistle, from front to back, from the subs who were wrapped up in blankets, toques, gloves and hoodies, to our seniors who played 80 minutes without rest, the girls were a solid, unified, hard working team that went toe to toe with their opponents.

Across the back line, Cadence C, Ellie T, Kyrie B, Grace J, Audrina C, Sophie S and Shanti P were stubborn, resilient and protected Mia R who stood with little to do in goal. In our engine room Keeley Y, Bailey R, Anna-Jean R and Alida C were fantastic, fighting for every ball and supported by our hard working wingers Robyn G, Julia C, Teigan D-R, Alexis L, Taya N and Sadiey M. Up front, Aubrey F and Presley W constantly gave the St. Ann's defense problems to solve. From our bench, Simone C, Kelsey R, Ava S and our wonderful team manager Juliette J supported and provided for their team mates throughout.

For the whole game Raiders battled, and were eventually undone by a moment of brilliance in the last 10 minutes of the game. A tense ending, and CSS just couldn't find a response. The game ended in a 1-0 defeat, but a huge effort from the girls definitely didn't go unnoticed.

Tomorrow, the girls play Kelowna Christian and either Osoyoos or Revelstoke, knowing that they need to win both games to secure a provincial berth.

☀️⚽️Let's go Raiders!!⚽️☀️