Back in May, the Coastal FC Thunder, a U11 girls soccer team, were named BMO Team of the Week – an honour given throughout the spring soccer season as part of a Bank of Montreal youth-soccer initiative.
Now, the Thunder are hoping to cash in as overall winners of the national contest – which comes with a $125,000 prize, to be put toward improving soccer facilities in South Surrey and White Rock.
The Thunder are one of 15 teams in the running for for the final award. The winner is decided by online vote.
According to BMO, the Team of the Week program is meant to celebrate youth soccer by encouraging teams across Canada to demonstrate team pride, team spirit, community commitment and passion for the game.
In addition to their exploits on the soccer pitch, the Thunder also spent time this season collecting food for local food banks and used soccer gear for underprivileged youth soccer players in Africa.
The team collected approximately 2,000 jerseys and several hundred pairs of shirts during the Umbro Cup, which was held at South Surrey Athletic Park in late May.
Voting began Monday and will remain open until Aug. 19.
To vote for the Thunder, visit www.bmosoccer.com