True Grit

A bundle of nerves and layers of clothing, the U20 girls’ soccer team stepped off the bus and onto the frost-covered turf to warm up before their match against Lower Canada College on Friday morning. This would be the first of five games played over the course of the weekend CAIS Soccer Tournament in Saint John New Brunswick, hosted by Rothesay Netherwood School.

As the day warmed up with the sun’s rays, so too did the girls’ teamwork, drive and skill. In their second game against Havergal College, they became more adept at passing to, and encouraging, each other. Despite a challenging loss, they were playing more as a collective.

This pattern of improvement carried over into Saturday when they played Stanstead College, Bishop’s College School and Bishop Strachan School. With each passing game, the girls were playing more strategically by understanding and holding their positions on the field, and by better understanding how to motivate one another to continue trying their best each half.

What started as a quiet and timid group of individuals cheering early Friday morning prior to their first game, became a booming, confident huddle of teammates late Saturday afternoon before their final game. Their level of assuredness was mirrored in their volume.

Sam Clark and I are extremely proud of the pluck and grit displayed by this team this weekend. The efforts sowed are sure to reap positive results in the rest of their regular season games.