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Storm topples unbeaten Kodiaks

Credo Christian senior boys soccer suffers first loss in 15 games this season
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Credo Christian Kodiaks' Victory Shumbusho (right) tries to get past the Southridge Storm defender during the Fraser Valley Single A senior boys championship game on Oct. 27. The Storm upset the top-seed Kodiaks 3-1.

In game one of the soccer season, the Credo Christian Kodiaks tamed the Southridge Storm 5-0.

But in the two senior boys' soccer teams' most recent meeting, it was a whole other story.

The Storm jumped out to a 3-0 lead and then held off a Credo second-half lead to capture the Single A Fraser Valley championship with a 3-1 victory to capture the banner on Credo Christian's home field on Oct. 27.

One of the biggest differences between the two games was the Storm having a different goalkeeper between the pipes this time.

"He was fantastic," said Credo coach Tom VanderHorst.

"We are disappointed to lose (but)Southridge played a great game and they deserved to win."

Part of the problem in the Fraser Valley finals was that the Kodiaks were not accustomed to facing adversity.

During the season, Credo Christian won their games by multiple goals.

And when the Storm took a 2-0 lead on a questionable goal shortly before the half — it appeared the ball did not cross the line —  the Kodiaks were in an unfamiliar position.

"When the red made the call for that second goal, it got us off our game and it took us too long to adjust and deal with that," Vanderhorst said.

"It was our own fault for not moving on and when a team dwells on a call for too long, they usually get off their game.

"That's exactly what happened with us and we have to learn from that."

It was the team's first loss in 15 games this season, which also includes winning a tournament in Campbell River and the Christian Schools' Tournament.

Credo will get a chance to bounce back from the disappointment of losing the Fraser Valley final as they have qualified for the Single A provincial championships, which run Nov. 5 to 7 in Kamloops.

The held a team meeting on Friday and the coach said the players are using this loss as motivation.

"I have a really determined bunch and they have learned that you have to earn everything," Vanderhorst said.

The Kodiaks have nine players back from last year's squad, which placed third at the provincial championships.

"The guys are using this (loss) as motivation for provincials."