Gulf Islands Secondary School’s senior boys soccer team finished fourth at island championships last week, narrowly missing out on making provincial finals.
“The boys had a fantastic tournament, tying top-seed Carihi 0-0 in the first game, before beating Stelly’s 1-0 with a wonderfully taken goal by Drayke Young in the second,” said coach Ciaran Ayton. “In the final pool game against Brooks, the boys hit the crossbar twice and were unable to eke out the win to finish top in the pool. The boys then faced a powerful, mostly Grade 12 Brentwood team in the game for third place. Brentwood took it, but the boys can be proud of a very successful season.”
Player of the tournament was Bradon Nordine, who is in Grade 10. He was the key man in a defence that conceded no goals in the first three games. Grade 12 athletes Brennan Shaver, Ty Davies, Yashua Love and Ryland Donaldson all played their last tournament for GISS and played with much heart and pride, said Ayton.
“They will be missed next year.”
However, he said, the 2018 team also looks promising, with many current Grade 10 players having had the experience of being so close to a provincial berth.
“The boys would like to thank Mike Brown for our wonderful school fields,” Ayton added.