Athletics
Spartans News

! La Banniere !

By Erik Van Dyke
Let’s go back in time a little. To October 6th, 2014. “Frozen” is the biggest movie in the world. “Happy”, “Let Her Go” and my girl TSwift’s “Shake It Off” are the top songs. And Stanstead College travels to Lennoxville, Quebec to take on Bishop’s College School in the last ETIAC regular season game of the season. In that game, which they win 6-1, your Spartans clinch 1st place in the league to win the Regular Season Banner.
 
At that time, it was the 4th year in a row that SC had won the Banner – a bit of a dynasty, you might say! – but they wouldn’t win it again for the next 6 years.
 
Flash-forward seven (7) years to Oct 16th, 2021, to this past Saturday. Drake and Ed Sheeran top the charts. James Bond’s No Time To Die is packing theaters. And your Sr Girls Soccer team finds itself in an eerily similar position, i.e. again it’s the last league game of the season, again hopping on the bus to Lennoxville to take on BCS, and again with the Banner on the line. They can’t tie. They can’t lose. They have to win outright if they want to hang La Banniere on the wall of the Amaron Gym for the first time since 2014.
 
And your Stanstead College Spartans answer the challenge with a comprehensive 4-1 victory!
 
Despite a sluggish 1st half – it was seriously humid out there – the Red & White ultimately showed what they’re made of. Joliane (2 goals) had the ball on a string and was a threat every time she touched the ball. Maddie in nets aggressively owned her 18 and snuffed out BCS attacks before they could start (I especially liked when she came off her line to confidently catch a corner kick in traffic – looked like a pro!). Lisa did her usual nobody-outworks-me routine and was rewarded when her missile from outside the box (assisted by Maddie(!) on a booming punt) found the back of the BCS net. Krystine, Maya, Laura and Camryn, cool and calm on defense, consistently kept the ball in the offensive zone. Neva had her 2nd straight strong game at defensive mid. Siena kept chopping wood. Simone played her best game of the year so far, showing more purpose, poise and aggression offensively. And, according to Victoria, who easily earns the Quote Of The DayTM; “Delaney is bad-@ss”.
 
However, Player Of The GameTM honours go to Gloria Riddell, who started the game tentatively, but by the 2nd half was confidently dominating the midfield, winning 50/50 balls, finding teammates, and making spirited runs through the BCS defense until she was rewarded with her 1st goal of the season. Don’t ever wait for the game to come to you, Gloria – go TAKE the game.
 
All in all, what a great Saturday morning. Autumn in the Eastern Townships. Technicolor trees framing the field. Parents coming from afar to watch the game. Shannon taking photos and videos of red-clad soccer players, arm in arm, smiling and joking. Some kind of decadent chocolate bread and croissants from Siena’s mom. And did I mention the ETIAC Banner for finishing 1st in the regular season?
 
Congratulations, team! – you’ve come a long way in a few short weeks. But we’re not done yet. We’ve got the LCC Jamboree in Montreal this weekend – going to be a blast! – and then ETIAC Playoffs next week to end the season. The last time Sr Girls Soccer won the ETIAC Playoff Championship Trophy?…
 
Yep…you guessed it…October 2014. Can we repeat history? Can we bring the Playoff Trophy back home?
 
Coaches VD and K
 
Season Statistics
5 wins 2 losses 1 tie      ETIAC Record:  3-0-1
Goals for: 21   Goals against: 9
E.T.I.A.C. Regular Season CHAMPIONS
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