Coming off a win in their first game of the year, the Drumheller U18 soccer team isn’t taking their first win as an indicator of an easy season. “We can’t take anything for granted,” said coach Martin McSween. “We have the potential and a really good squad, but they are new as a team and need to start gelling together.” The U18, who are the reigning district champions, took home a win against Carstairs on Thursday, April 30. They were scheduled to face Hanna at home last week, but the game was rained out. “The game against Carstairs was not an indicator to how well we’ll do this season, they weren’t very strong and I don’t know how the other teams are this year,” McSween said.
The tier 4 team has a full roster of 18 players, one being a girl, and compete in the Big Country district. “We were the first district champs from Drumheller, period, and being defending champs, it would be good to have a second win under our belt.” McSween hopes the team’s unique style in the league of splitting apart the opponents defenders to leave the field wide open, a European style, will help them keep their crown. Most teams in the league play a “kick and chase” style game, which McSween says can be managed by taking out the midfields doing the kicking. The team plays 8 games in the regular season, with the top five teams in the district making playoffs. “Three Hills, Hanna and Olds are normally the top teams,” McSween said. “But we have a number of international students who are playing, which bring another level to our game. We have potential.” The U18’s next home game is on Thursday versus Bowden.
