ESTEVAN - A soccer team from Estevan not only had a good showing at a provincial championship despite being the youngest team entered, but it was also recognized for its sportsmanship.
Estevan sent a travelling squad to a U17 tournament in Saskatoon on June 14 and 15. They finished 0-2-1, but coach Derek Mercer noted this was the first time these players have been to provincials, and they had just one U17 player on the roster. The others are in the U15 age group.
"The bulk of this team is going to be together for a couple more years," said Mercer.
Estevan opened with a 1-1 tie against a club team from Saskatoon. Henry Blue scored Estevan's lone goal in the game on a penalty shot. The game was called due to lightning with about 10 minutes remaining.
"We all walked away from that feeling really excited. The way that we played in that game was well worth the trip to the tournament, and that's how a lot of the parents felt," said Mercer.
In the last 10-15 minutes, Mercer thought Estevan controlled the play.
"We thought there was another goal coming at any minute," said Mercer.
Estevan then lost 9-0 to a powerful team from Regina that made it to the provincial final, and 4-0 to a squad from the Battlefords, a game that Mercer thought was closer than the score indicated.
Estevan was recognized with the tournament's sportsmanship award prior to the game versus the Battlefords.
"We try very hard to create an environment where everyone's welcome and everyone's their teammates, regardless of what level of soccer they're at, and to compete hard and to compete well," he said.
Estevan earned the tournament's sportsmanship award. The three officials from each of the first two games ranked teams on sportsmanship on a 1-10 scale. Estevan received a perfect score of 60. When they arrived for their final game, the technical director for the Saskatchewan Soccer Association was waiting with a plaque.
"We are extremely proud of that, that despite facing some very hard competition and a new challenge, the kids, aside from playing their very best, they also played it the right way," said Mercer.
A few players on the travelling team couldn't make it, so Estevan picked up a couple of players from Stoughton, which Mercer said has good soccer programs.
Mercer believes this experience will help the kids, because they had the confidence of playing at provincials and seeing how other top teams play.
Meanwhile, the Estevan U13 travelling team went to Saskatoon on June 1 and 2 for a tournament and went 2-0-1. Medals were not handed out.
Estevan blanked Nipawin 3-0, tied Stoughton 2-2 and defeated Eatonia 3-0.
Coach Jordan Isbister noted Stoughton was comprised of players from throughout the southeast region, so they were strong. He thought Estevan controlled the games against Eatonia and Nipawin from a possession standpoint, but those two teams had strong goaltending.
"From Day 1 until the tournament, and even to today, they exponentially grew their skill. They went from not being able to play as a team and playing more individually to understanding how to play as a team and get open," said Isbister.
They also learned how to protect and make good use of their goalie.
The U13 club also went to tournaments in Redvers and Stoughton, and Isbister believes they played twice as many games as last year.
The players finished up house league play last week, and a year-end tournament for Estevan Youth Soccer was held on June 23.
Mercer and Isbister noted that anyone could join the travelling team to gain some additional experience and development.
