Soccer's Synergy in sync for season
Richmond Synergy topped the Labour Day soccer classic on the North Shore. The local under-14 Metro Division girls' soccer team kicks off the regular season Sunday at 3 p.m. at Hugh Boyd Park.
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Updated: September 17, 2009 12:25 PM
Richmond’s U-14 Metro girls’ soccer team appears more than ready for this weekend's season opener after recently defending its championship at the second annual West Vancouver Labour Day tournament.
Synergy won all three of its games in the round-robin to finish atop its pool and then went on to win the championship final in a shootout.
Synergy started off the tournament with a 3-1 victory over the Upper Vancouver Island United on goals by Ravneet Bhatti, Seina Kashima and Ashley Johnston. In their second game against the North Shore Caps, Synergy won the battles to the ball and controlled much of the play in a 2-0 win. Bhatti and Kashima once again scored for the local side and Joscelyn Wallace, Synergy’s goalkeeper, made two outstanding saves to preserve the shutout.
In the final game of the round-robin, Synergy defeated the Burnaby Rebels team 3-0 with Bhatti opening the scoring for the third straight game. She then scored her second goal on a spectacular header from a well-placed corner kick from Emma Kallner. Jasmine Manhas completed the scoring with an insurance marker midway through the second half.
Synergy’s next game was in the title match against the Tsawwassen Thunder, who finished first in the other Pool. As expected, this was a hard-fought game with neither team allowing the other many chances. After regulation-time the game was tied at 0-0 and it went to FIFA penalty kicks to determine the winner.
Richmond’s first three shooters; Bhatti, Johnston and Manhas, all scored on their penalty kicks for Synergy with their goalkeeper, Wallace, allowing only one goal for the opposition. Emma Partridge went on to score Synergy's fourth penalty kick to secure the victory for Richmond.
Richmond’s defence was particularly strong throughout the tournament only allowing one goal and permitting very few opportunities for the opposition. Wallace finished the tournament with 3 shutouts.
Synergy begins it’s regular season 3 p.m. Saturday against the Upper Vancouver Islander at Hugh Boyd Park.
The Richmond Synergy team consists of Ravneet Bhatti, Courtney Bergunder, Emily Carver, Ashley Johnston, Emma Kallner, Seina Kashima, Ashley Kidd, Leah Lum, Jasmine Manhas, Michaela Mavis, Emma Partridge, Christie Stewart, Tessa Tasaka, Joscelyn Wallace, Jacqueline Yan and is coached by David Partridge.
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