The PCI Trojans boys soccer team has wrapped up an undefeated season with a 1-0 win over the Oak Park Raiders, securing the WWAC Tier 2 Varsity AAAA Championship on June 12.
A fitting finish for graduating seniors
Grade 12 students Cade Friesen and Owen Kristoff have both been with the program for four years and say the win capped off their high school careers perfectly.
“We've gone to the championship twice, my Grade 9 and 10 year, and then last year we had some problems... so we didn't go to championship,” Kristoff says.
Having played with many of the same teammates since childhood added a sense of familiarity and trust on the field.
“It was good because we know everyone on the team,” Friesen adds. “We've been friends with them for a while and then obviously played with them in younger years, so it was good to play together with them again for last year.”
Friesen also reflects on how meaningful the win is as a senior.
“The win was amazing,” he continues. “Like Owen said, we went to the finals Grade 9, Grade 10 and then problems last year. It was great to finally win it.”
Looking ahead to next season
With a dozen Grade 12s graduating, the team will be entering a rebuilding phase, but coach Mike Robinson sees a strong future ahead.
“I'm extremely proud,” Robinson says. “It's like these guys have said it's been four years in the making, coming out of COVID and everything like that. So to finally kind of hit that pinnacle, that goal like Antonio was saying with two minutes left there just to be on the right side of the banner presentation was really thrilling.”
“Next season’s going to be an interesting one,” he adds. “There’s only 7 returning players, so those seven will be key to kind of take that leadership role and push on. There was a lot of good young talent at the tryouts this year that didn't quite make the team, so hopefully they come back.”
- with files from Brittany Boschman
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