Two local soccer players, YRHS Raider striker Spencer Steele and Sacred Heart Saint goalkeeper Zack Shearer, played big roles in Queen City United鈥檚 2015 Provincial championship campaign that saw the Regina-based club go 9-0-1 in the Saskatchewan Premier Soccer League (SPSL) U16 Division this season and win the 2015 Provincial title.
Steele was named the SPSL U16 Division Golden Boot Award winner for the summer for his 11 goals in 10 games while Shearer earned Top Goalie honours with six clean sheets in 10 matches.
Their performances also helped Queen City United qualify for the 2015 U-16 Cup National Championship in Surrey, BC, that was held from October 7-12, where the Regina side finished seventh out of ten teams, opening the tournament with a 2-2 draw against Codiac First Touch (New Brunswick) before suffering a 6-0 defeat to the Woodbridge Strikers (Ontario).
Queen City United then competed in a 3-1 loss to Panellinios (Quebec) and a 1-1 tie with Winnipeg Phoenix FC (Manitoba) to help Queen City finish in fourth out of five teams in Group B, sending them to the seventh place game against Newfoundland and Labrador.
Steele and Shearer aided Queen City in their final game with Steele playing a solid game despite not finding the scoresheet and Shearer only allowing two goals in a 3-2 Saskatchewan victory and a seventh place finish.
The two Yorktonites felt that they put forth their best efforts at the National tournament; however they did acknowledge that they still have a lot to improve on. 鈥淚 think we played pretty well but there are some things that we can work on and get better at, but that鈥檚 the same with everyone,鈥� offered Steele, adding that the game is a lot quicker when played against the best U-16 players Canada has to offer. 鈥淧laying against the best players, it definitely lowered the margin for error. You had to play a lot quicker; everything was a lot more physical.
鈥淭hese guys, all of them are really skilled and the teams we played, Quebec, B.C., Ontario, they have a wide variety of players they can pick from and their players are larger and stronger.鈥�
Shearer echoed his Queen City teammate, but added that playing against high calibre competition will only improve their skills for the future. 鈥淚t was definitely a learning experience. I鈥檝e been to big competitions before with Team Saskatchewan and stuff but it was pretty good.
鈥淚t was quality soccer and you don鈥檛 get to play against players like that all the time.鈥�
The two soccer players now hope that their newly gained experience will aid them in their quest for another 2015 Provincial Championship, as Shearer looks to help the Sacred Heart Saints win the 2015 SHSAA 2A Boys title while Steele hopes his skills can help the YRHS Raiders bring home their first-ever SHSAA 3A Boys championship.
Both players will get their shot to help their respective schools this weekend, with the Saints in Regina for the 2A Provincials while Steele and his Raiders will be in Weyburn.
