Vision clear for Hanover Haze

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This article was published 27/08/2016 (2792 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Hanover Haze—now the lone competitive women’s soccer team in Steinbach—is on track to being better than they want to be in.

Let’s explain: this team was established to provide a less competitive option for women than the Division 1 Hype. It’s for the players who aren’t at the Hype’s skill level, or are but favour a more laidback team.

They started in the lowest of divisions in the Winnipeg Women’s Soccer League for two seasons but were promoted this year, their third campaign, to Division 4 based on a strong showing in 2015.

With only a game left this year, the Haze may even acquire a record good enough to advance to Division 3. Usually the top two teams are promoted and Hanover is now tied for first.

“I’m not really sure what we’re going to do if we do keep going up,” player Brynn Vogt said with a laugh when asked of the future, “but we’ll see what happens in the next couple years.”

That is some time away, of course, but for now the Haze has accomplished what they set out to: provide a less competitive but still serious level of soccer.

Coach Courtney Priest played on the Hype, a team established in 2006 that quickly climbed division ranks, but would leave to start the Haze and play with them in their inaugural 2014 season.

“Eventually you get older and you don’t want to play at such a high level anymore,” Priest said, now 27, “and I was having kids so I wanted to keep playing soccer in between that.”

This would be a team comprised of young mothers wanting to stay fit, along with other ladies of varied ages, beyond the girls in their early 20s that largely make up the Hype, which disbanded after the 2014 season.

Priest said the average age of Haze players range from 20 to 34.

“We don’t want to go up to Premier (division),” she said. “We are not seeking to climb all the divisions and win everything. We’re just looking to get out, be active and have fun.”

They’re having a good time, and they’re winning, too.

Last season they finished in top spot in the fifth division with an 11-3 record, which rewarded them a promotion.

After a victory last week and being shutout 3-0 to the other local team, Ste. Anne Superbad, Hanover sports an impressive 8-2-2 record in Division 4, which ties them with Ste Anne for first place in their loop.

Hanover ends their season Sunday at 6 p.m. against the Tri-S Strikers at Steinbach Soccer Park.

Though Priest said there is no firm rule on how many teams get promoted each year, the top two, which this season are Steinbach and Ste Anne, have moved up in the past.

Even if the Haze is promoted, there is unpredictability in the future. Priest said half of the team is new each year; some players stepping back because life gets in the way.

Those on the team are certainly enjoying themselves, emphasizing the fun they have with each other.

Priest, who is on maternity leave from her job, said it is a way to keep playing a game she loves.

“I like getting out and being active. I like having something to do,” she said. “I spend all day with my kids, so it’s nice to spend some time with other adults.”

Vogt, 31, didn’t try out for the Hype years ago because she couldn’t commit to the travel. A player on the Haze all three seasons, she appreciates having called a girl as young as 17 her teammate, as well as women in their late 40s and early 50s.

“Almost every year we have people who it’s their first year and they’ve never played a sport and then we have people who’ve played competitively and people who have just played on rec teams their whole lives,” said Vogt. “It’s a wide variety of people.”