The Brookswood Bobcats are left to wonder what might have been.
The Grade 8/9 girls soccer team had an early 1-0 lead in the Fraser Valley championship game, but conceded the equalizer late in the first half, and then the winning goal a dozen minutes into the second half as the top-seed Earl Marriott Mariners won 2-1.
The game was played at South Surrey Athletic Park on May 24.
“We had some unfortunate injuries in key positions,” said Dave Da Costa, who coaches alongside his daughter, Brianna.
One of those injuries happened in the Fraser Valley final, with the Bobcats player sent to hospital with a head injury which required overnight hospitalization, the coach said, adding she was released the following morning.
Brookswood was the second seed at the eight-team championships.
“Earl Marriott was a very strong team,” he said.
“And our team played exceptionally well.”
Nicole Gracie opened the scoring about 20 minutes into the game, but that was not enough against a strong Mariners team which outscored its foes 22-2 during five regular season games.
Earl Marriott also beat the R.E. Mountain Eagles 3-0 in the quarter-finals and Delview 2-1 in the semifinals.
Brookswood hammered Lord Tweedsmuir 6-0 in their playoff opener, and then defeated the Credo Christian Kodiaks 3-0 to book a spot in the Fraser Valley final.
Delview defeated Credo 3-0 in the bronze medal game.
At the start of the season, Da Costa said he was not sure what the season held for the team.
“We started with a mixed bag, with players all coming from different coaches,” he said.
“It is amazing how they managed to pull together and become so strong.”
“I am just really proud of the girls,” added Brianna Da Costa.
“Everyone put their heart into it, and that is all you can ask.”