It's been quite the start for both the U17 and U14 Morden Eagles soccer programs and manager Tania Sigurdson is thrilled for what's already happened and for what is still to come.
"We're one week in," an excited Sigurdson explains. "Our U17 Morden Eagles team has had two games, while the U14 Eagles have also had two games. We've won all of them and have no goals scored against us. For an opening week, we're pretty thrilled."
Not only was it a good week score wise, Sigurdson says it was great to be outside again. "Being outside, my goodness, soccer is fine in the winter, we love that we have a space to practice all winter long in Winkler, but there is nothing quite like being out on the pitch with the wind and the sun, competing, putting all the skills that we've practiced into game settings against teams from Winnipeg, Steinbach and Lorette. It's fantastic to be out on the field."
Many U17 Eagles have played together for years and Sigurdson is looking forward to the newest program building similar relatinoships. "This is the first year for our U14 team, that's been a slow build. We started with the U17 group, basically taking girls into the program that are grade 9 through 12, in our Zone 4 MHSAA High School Soccer in the Pembina Valley, these girls play for their high school team. When they come together in the spring, we pull girls from Carman, Altona, Winkler and Morden, as well as surrounding RM's, getting the chance to join one team together, it elevates the sport at all levels. These girls create these friendships that last, then come fall season with high school soccer, they play against each other. It brings the community of soccer together for our female athletes. Our U14's are still in middle school and we're excited for these girls to start younger and kind of grow up in the program as well."
Being in the older part of the program, Sigurdson says it's very special to see the U17 girls giving back to the community. "We started to offer the U14 program because research shows that we lose our female athletes when they get to be about the grade 6 or 7 age. I find that as a female athlete when I was younger, having older female athletes come down and coach, which a lot of our U17 girls coach our U14 program. There is a nice mentorship and connection there, we want the younger girls to strive for that future. Our U17 girls, the ones that have graduated, they've connected with a women's rec program that runs through the winter and into the spring. Carman has started a soccer program for women and a lot of our girls are graduating into that program and some come back to coach the U17. There is something so pure about these girls that have created something special and wanting to come back, all volunteer, too. It's pretty amazing."
Sigurdson is quick to point out that it takes a lot of people to make the programs special and it all comes back to the support around the teams. "Honestly, these parents give a lot. They transport the kids, even if we're practicing in Winkler or have home games in Carman, if we have road games in Winnipeg, Steinbach or Lorette, they move their kids a lot. It's not just that, when we have our exhibition games locally, the community comes out and cheers them on. The community has helped sponsorship wise. The Pembina Valley comes out to support their kids. Whether it's Morden, Altona, Winkler or Carman, the boundaries are Pembina Valley. These girls are supported by the community, our fans, the parents and it's all fantastic."