The St. Anthony’s Sabres Senior Girls soccer team showed improvement in each game at their home tournament last Friday and are hoping the learning curve continues until zones.
The Sabres hosted three other teams on Friday to a one-day tournament. They understood they were going to be in tough, inviting Holy Trinity Academy, Highwood High School and Cochrane High School.
“It is good to have these games now rather than at zones, now we have something we can work in practice because we played some games,” said coach Gavin Makse.
The team faced Highwood High in their first game, and kept it close, losing 2-nil. They next faced Cochrane, and fell 4-0. In their final match, they faced the defending Sabres Invitational Champs and went down 4-0.
Makse says they have three areas to focus on as they progress throughout the season.
“Obviously finishing, because we didn’t score a goal,” said Makse. “When you get the opportunity, you have to put the ball in the back of the net.”
He would also like the team to mark up when they lose possession.
“When you give teams like that much room, it gives them that much more time to get their shots off, and be more accurate,” said Makse.
The other focus is limiting their touches when they do have the ball. This means keeping their heads up and moving the ball efficiently.
The team, with seven returning players and nine new player on the field is preparing for zones coming up October 14 and 15 in Cochrane. Competition will be strong; in fact, last year’s top three placing teams were the same ones that were in Drumheller last Friday.
