After a second-place finish at last year’s Women’s Western Classic Finals, members of the Semiahmoo Supra were primed and ready to improve upon that placing in 2011.
But on Sunday, they fell one goal short, again settling for second place. And while most clubs would be thrilled to finish in the silver-medal position at a tournament that includes top over-35 teams from Alberta, Ontario and Quebec, the result stung for members of the Supra.
“It was harder this time – torturous really,” said Supra’s Nik Jillings. “To miss by one goal... it just sucks.”
Supra won twice and tied once in the weekend event, which was held at West Vancouver’s Ambleside Park, but the tournament was a total-goals format, and Semiahmoo fell one-goal shy of Alberta in the race for first place.
Semiahmoo beat Quebec 4-1, and followed with a 3-1 victory over Ontario before wrapping things up with a 0-0 draw against the eventual champs from Alberta.
The Ontario contest was the one that, looking back on it, caused Jillings and her teammates the most grief.
“It was a good win, 3-1, but really, it should have been about 7-1, and that ended up costing us. I’ve never seen a team hit so many posts, so many crossbars – so many close ones,” she said.
“We’re just a little disappointed, and it was difficult to take because we all felt we should’ve walked away with the gold medal.
“We even heard from other teams who said we were the best team there.”
A victory for Supra, the B.C. representatives after winning provincials in May, would have ensured a clean sweep for the host province, as B.C. claimed top spot in the men’s western draw, which was played concurrently.
With Westerns now complete, the Supra will return their attention to their Metro Women’s Soccer League schedule.
So far this year, the over-35 team, which plays in the classics premier division, is undefeated through three games.
They’re off this week for Thanksgiving, but hit the pitch again the following weekend.
“Our team is actually pretty neat. We have a Canadian hall-of-fame player in Silvana Burtini, and we have great coach, (former national women’s team coach) Metro Gerela,” Jillings said.