Last Sunday was a stormy one for the Campbell River Wave girls U13 Rep soccer team in more ways than one when they met the Comox Valley Thunder at the Cedar soccer pitch.
Rain, high winds and very slippery field conditions made the game an interesting one.
The first half began with much of the play in Thunder territory.
Kayla Lund and Shelby Cyr worked many plays up the left wing and enabled several shots on goal by Jessica Revoy and Nyla Haider.
The Thunder managed to bring the play back to the Wave end of the field, and a free kick chance by the Thunder was saved by Wave goalkeeper Amelia Nimmon.
Fifteen minutes in, Comox Valley scored their first goal, followed by a great chance for the Wave – a great header from defender Rowen Flood led to a breakaway and shot on goal by Cyr, but she couldn’t capitalize on the chance.
The Thunder responded to that flurry with another goal. Soon afterwards, Wave game captain Haley Wingert had a free kick chance, which, due to slippery conditions, ended in several players, including the goalkeeper, landing in a heap in front of the Thunder goal.
The half ended after a Thunder corner kick was cleared out of the Wave end.
The weather worsened during the second half and the Thunder rolled in with two goals within the first few minutes.
Lavenia Rendall, Lacey Holland and Phenix Konrad worked hard up the wing to allow some great chances on goal by Holly Crosby and Tory Stewart.
Some excellent defensive moves by Kate Regier and the tenacity of Wingert and Inara Jhawer kept moving the ball up from midfield.
A huge kick by Emily McLean cleared the action back to the Comox Valley end.
But the Thunder were able to match the pressure and cameup with another goal.
Campbell River rallied in the dying minutes of the game which resulted in a shot on goal by Flood.
Despite the final score of 0-5 , the Wave showed a new level of fitness, footwork and communication that will help propel them forward in future games.