Steinbach soccer park impresses at MHSAA provincials

For the first time in more than two decades, the Daniel McIntyre Maroons will be hanging a provincial banner inside their gym.

The school’s boys soccer team went on an underdog run through the Manitoba High School Athletic Association AAAA soccer championships, hosted in Steinbach, defeating top-seeded West Kildonan 2-1 in the finals June 6.

Head coach Danny Gomes said just getting to provincials was an accomplishment for the group, but they exceeded expectations and won three games against the top programs in Manitoba.

“It means so much to us and our school,” Gomes said, his voice hoarse during a post-game interview.

“I lost my voice, as you can tell, but I don’t care. I’m so proud of the boys.”

It was a deserved win for the Maroons in the final. They fell behind 1-0 in the first half, tallying two second half goals to win the game. The team managed to guide a corner kick into the back of the net to equalize, with captain Vova Anikeyenko hammering a penalty kick into the left half of the net for the game-winner.

The MHSAA soccer championships have eight teams playing in a single-elimination tournament over two days.

Gomes said he wasn’t even sure before the season the Maroons would be playing in the top division, but winning the indoor division two championship gave the team the confidence they could compete at the top level, despite some opponents doubting them.

“We were poorly treated by some sides,” Gomes said while reflecting on the season and noting West Kildonan were respectful opponents in the provincial final.

“(Opponents said) ‘go back to division two.’ To be here feels really good, I’ll be honest.”

In the girls final, Léo-Rémillard made short work of every team they faced, leaping out to a 3-0 lead over Kelvin in the final. A pair of consolation goals when the game was out of reach were the only goals the Renards conceded in the tournament and the only goals keeper Anna Fischer allowed all season.

“Anna should be very proud of her season,” head coach Hafeez Khan said after the game.

After the first half ended 3-0, Léo-Rémillard’s goal difference on the season was sitting at 58-0 (league and provincial championships combined). That dominance was aided by a slight breeze at their backs in the first half.

“The wind always has a psychological effect I think,” Khan said.

“We were able to put in a few goals in the first half. What was impressive was Kelvin just never gave up.”

Two of Kelvin’s tournament all-stars had to leave the match with leg injuries in the second half, snuffing out any attempt at a miracle comeback.

With both the quarterfinals and semi-finals played on June 5, cloudy weather was a welcome sight on Friday, as the temperature ramped up on Saturday for the finals.

“We have a full bench, so we were able to rotate them through,” Khan said.

“We’ve got great depth. Everyone on the team could play. It was easy to move them in and out.”

The Steinbach Soccer Park once again earned rave reviews from the visiting coaches.

“We could tell you take great pride in your facilities here,” Khan said.

“The park is beautiful.”

Although the host Steinbach Regional Sabres fell in the quarterfinals in both the boys and girls tournaments, school earned top-class praise.

“They ran an excellent, excellent competition here, everything was readily available,” Gomes said, noting injuries were quickly taken care of and Steinbach’s hospitality was great.

“We will be back. I want to come to the Steinbach tournaments. They know how to run things here and I’m not just saying that because we won.”

Gomes added he knows how much time and money goes into maintaining five grass fields for soccer.

“The ones in the city are still not nearly this calibre,” Daniel McIntyre assistant coach and manager Brittney Leost said.

“It’s a beautiful field, absolutely gorgeous.”

For more photos of the event, including SRSS quarterfinal match-ups, be sure to check out Carillon Sports Second Shots, published every Wednesday at www.thecarillon.com/sports.