The Wildfire were back up and running at Arrowview Elementary School last Saturday as they took on the Ladysmith 49ers in U14/U15 Girls soccer action.
Oceanside came up short 2-1, but coach Dan MacKay was quick to make the point “it was a real good game ... we only had 12 players, four of our senior girls were missing, so I was real happy with the effort of the team.”
The week before they played the top team in the league to a 1-0 loss with 12 players as well, giving the younger players the chance to step up. The side has five younger players and comprised mostly of 13-14 year olds.
“The part I care about is that last year we had two wins, and nine or 10 of the players returned this year,” said MacKay.
The Wildfire are currently sitting third in the eight-team league at 6-4 — two points back of second.
Mid Island is unbeaten at 8-0-1.
It was, he said, another good group effort: “everyone has been playing well.”
Oceanside led 1-nil at the half. Paola Mendoza staked the Wildfire to a 1-nil lead midway through the first half with her first of the season when she buried a nice shot from 20 yards out, which is how it stood at the half.
The 49ers drew even 10 minutes into the second half off “of an incredible free kick that deflected in” and salted the win with about 10 minutes remaining.
Wildfire keeper Emma Orrick “had another strong game (and) our team had chances in the last 10 minutes, so they never gave up.”
NEXT UP
The Wildfire are in action Saturday morning at Nanaimo turf fields against the Shockwave for their last game before the Christmas break.