SUBMITTED BY SSI WOMEN’S OVER-30 SOCCER TEAM
Salt Spring Island’s Women’s Over-30 soccer team capped off their season with an impressive showing at the BC Soccer Women’s Masters B Provincial Championships, demonstrating skill, teamwork and remarkable spirit both on and off the pitch during this exciting competition.
The island squad earned their place in the provincial tournament despite facing challenges throughout a difficult regular season. While results didn’t always go their way, the Salt Spring side built a well-deserved reputation for exceptional sportsmanship and unwavering enthusiasm that carried them into provincial play. The team’s positive attitude and commitment to supporting one another created a resilient group that embraced the opportunity to compete at the Masters B provincial level.
The squad began their provincial journey with a commanding home victory on April 13, hosting Meralomas United from Vancouver’s Kitsilano area at Salt Spring’s home field. With loyal supporters lining the sidelines and perfect spring weather conditions, the islanders gave their fans plenty to cheer about as they capitalized on strong defensive performances and creative attacking movements to secure their place in the next round.
“It was pretty fun to play a new-to-us team,” said team manager Naomi Tweddle.
The home match featured standout performances from every position on the pitch. Goalkeeper Robin made crucial saves, including a point-blank shot she tipped over the crossbar. The defensive line, anchored by Katie who brought what teammates described as a “not today” attitude, repeatedly frustrated the Meralomas attackers with disciplined positioning and timely challenges. Chloe drew particular praise for her matchup against Meralomas’ star striker, shutting her down throughout the match.
The team’s standout offensive performance was led by Mo Comeau, who was involved in the buildup play of every goal, assisting two and scoring another. Naomi opened the scoring at the 30-minute mark, shortly followed by Mo finding the net in the 32nd minute. Alandra capped off the victory in the second half with a goal at minute 56.
Advancing to the semi-finals, the provincial run continued with the team traveling to Vancouver for their match against Portuguese Club of Vancouver (PCOV) on April 27. The away fixture became something of a mini-adventure for the Salt Spring squad, who made the most of their trip with pre-game nature walks, shopping at Tsawwassen Mills mall, and a celebratory team dinner at Four Winds local brewery.
Despite facing a skilled PCOV side, Salt Spring demonstrated they could compete at a high level. PCOV opened the scoring in the 7th minute of the game, but Salt Spring responded only 2 minutes later when Sam Rogers scored what teammates called “a very pretty goal,” ripping a long-distance shot past the keeper after being fed a pass from KK. The team doubled their advantage with a sequence of play that highlighted their technical abilities. Lorna connected with Sam, who delivered an enticing ball for Mo to chase after making a clever run behind the defence. Mo finished clinically, leaving the PCOV goalkeeper with no chance. “Amazing vision and weight on the ball from Sam and Mo always looking to make smart runs. That keeper was frozen and Mo was miles onside for that one. No doubt about it,” noted a teammate.
Though PCOV would eventually find the net twice to retake the lead by the 28th minute, the islanders continued to create chances throughout the match. The quality of the opposition was evident, with one player noting, “That was a really great finish on PCOV’s second goal. I have no issues applauding that attacking move.” The match featured several memorable moments that showcased Salt Spring’s determination. Mo nearly scored from a highlight-reel “Pigeon Wing” pass from teammate Lorna Walde. Chloe earned extensive praise for repeatedly shutting down a persistent PCOV attacker who was one of the best players on the field.
The provincial tournament presented unique opportunities to play new teams, outside their typical Lower Vancouver Island opponents, and travel to new locations. Beyond the match results, the team emphasized how the provincial experience gave them extra time for bonding. Playing team sports as an adult can be challenging. Balancing careers, family scheduling and aging bodies can be difficult, but everyone on the team makes an effort to work together and support each other. The team particularly appreciated the support they received from those who made special efforts to cheer them on from the sidelines or watch the live stream from home.
“Overall, provincials was a really positive experience and our group of soccer ladies are amazing,” summarized Naomi. “It was a bit stressful at times organizing team logistics and travelling to the mainland but getting the home game in the quarter-finals was fantastic and then having a mini team adventure in Vancouver was a lot of fun.”
This was the first time the adult team has participated in the provincial tournament, and the entire squad represented Salt Spring Island with pride. The team demonstrated that island soccer can stand toe-to-toe with mainland competition, playing with skill, enthusiasm and sportsmanship throughout.
“This was a fantastic end to our season,” concluded Naomi. “I had a really fun time and I think we gave a very good account of ourselves. It was nice to score some goals and really fun to play some new teams and face new challenges together.”
The Salt Spring Women’s Over-30 team now looks ahead to a summer break and another season competing in the Lower Island Women’s Soccer Association starting in the fall. Carrying forward the positive experience, confidence and camaraderie developed during their impressive provincial run, the team is excited about getting back on the field in the fall.
The team wishes to thank their supporters and their local sponsor Windsor Plywood. Their encouragement and support played a vital role in the team’s provincial experience. Salt Spring soccer fans can look forward to seeing the Women’s Over-30 team back in action when their new season begins in the fall.