U17 Chatham Attack Win League And Cup Titles
The Chatham Attack U17 soccer team – Contributed Photo
The Chatham Attack, the youngest team in the league, finished with a record of 11 wins, 2 ties and 3 losses for a total of 35 points and an excellent plus 31 goal differential. They finished on top of the league, having a 3 point edge over the second place squad, Byron SC, under 18 boys team.
During the weekend of August 17, the Attack participated in the league District Cup, which is comparable to a league, playoff tournament. The Attack qualified for the District Cup weekend event after beating the Byron under 18 team in a quarterfinal game on July 26 by the score of 2-1. Scoring in that game was Colin Kloostra and Simon Coelho.
On August 17, the Attack defeated the Oakridge Rhinos in the semi-final game 3-0. Greg Vermey scored two goals in that game and Josh Balan added a third. The final game, played on August 18, required a shootout to settle the matter after a 1-1 tie at the end of regulation. Cameron Marson scored the lone Attack goal in that game. In the shootout, the Attack goalie, Ashton Van Helden, secured the shootout win and District Cup Championship with an outstanding save on Sarnia’s fifth shot.
“This team is a hard-working and skilled group, who played determined soccer all season,” said Steve Kloostra, the head coach of the Attack “and the result was what they set out to do at the start of the season, which was to win both league and District Cup honours. They are deserving of both as they were the best and most consistent team throughout the season.”
The Attack clinched the League Championship on the second final game of the season, after having secured a victory over Sarnia FC on August 26 in Sarnia by a score of 2-1. Stefan Borovicanin scored both goals in that game. All EMDSL Boys under 18 division games are now complete for the 2019 outdoor season.
Pictured Above – Back row from L to R – Steve Kloostra (coach), Ryan DeGroot, Colin Kloostra, Stefan Borovicanin, Aiden Lucyk, Dylan Holly, Christian Mastroianni, Owen Den Brinker, Cesar Coelho (coach) and Brad Duquette (coach/trainer)
Front row from L to R – Simon Coelho, Greg Vermey, Aidan Catton, Cameron Marson, Ashton Van Helden, Cameron Duquette, Josh Balan, Matt Cunningham, Evan Minnie