Premier women’s Terry Price soccer final Sunday in Langford
It will be Gorge United versus Prospect Lake for the Terry Price Cup, the top trophy for women’s soccer in Victoria.
Both teams won their respective semifinals on Sunday, Gorge beating Vic West 5-1 and Prospect Lake edging Nanaimo 2-1.
It sets up the Price final, 2 p.m. Sunday at Bear Mountain Stadium in Langford.
High-schooler Sarah Douglas led Gorge with two goals, while Brodie Brookes, Sarah Cameron and Lindsey Butler added singles. Rachelle Armstrong replied for Vic West.
“Prospect Lake have solid defenders who work hard and they’re a hard-tackling team,” Gorge coach Brent Garraway said.
Gorge already booked their ticket to the provincials as the top Island seed, finishing the season undefeated through 14 games to lead the Lower Island premier division standings.
There were some close calls, however, including a match against Prospect Lake.
In an early season meeting, Prospect took a 1-0 lead into the half, but Gorge came back to win 2-1. Most recently, Gorge defeated Prospect Lake 4-1 in Terry Price pool play.
Prospect Lake finished fourth in premier play, 6-2-5. Their goals against of 13 was second only to the stingy three given up by Gorge.
“Playing a physical team like Prospect is a good test for us, preparing for the physical nature of the Vancouver teams at provincials,” Garraway said.
A former UVic Vike, Garraway is hoping to crack the soccer provincials as a long-time player with the Gorge Div. 1 men. He’s also coaching the Oak Bay High senior girls soccer team this spring.
“It keeps me busy.”
The Gorge women have yet to win the provincials. Garraway came aboard as coach eight years ago when the team was promoted to the premier level.
Co-captains Kate Baker and Brodie Brooks lead a team ranging in age from Grade 11 students Sarah Douglas (Glenlyon Norfolk) and Maddie Secco (Oak Bay High) to 31-yearolds.
Stocked with ex-UVic Vikes, Gorge is hoping to win its first provincial championship. That includes former Vikes captain Sarah Cameron and the top scorer in the CIS last year, Kendra Flock, who was recently released from the national team. Among the other Vikes alumni on Gorge are are Jackie Snell, Mariel Solsberg, Holly Fiddick, Cara McLeod and Heather Christie.
While Flock is considered a shoe-in to play for the new Victoria Highlanders W-League team in 2011, there could be three or four more Gorge players suiting up in the W-League this season.
If Prospect Lake wins they’ll assume the second Island berth at the provincials.