Impressive might be understating the success that the Woodstock Strikers U13 Girls soccer team (b. 2005) enjoyed in 2018. Following a dominating indoor season, in which the team went a perfect 17-0-0 during regular season play and then swept the playoffs to win the District Cup, the Strikers didn’t miss a beat when they headed outdoors to compete in regional play for the first time.
In fact, in their debut season in the WOSYL Inter District league (and their first experience playing full field 11 v 11 soccer), the girls finished atop the standings with 42 points overall. Playing their home games at Cowan Park, the Strikers went 14-2-0 in their 16 games, finishing ahead of Windsor (12-2-2 for 38 points) for top spot. The Woodstock girls recorded a league-best 55 goals along the way, while also allowing the fewest against (11).
How did they allow so few goals against?
“It was really a commitment by our group of defenders who work extremely hard, as well as our two fantastic goalies, Adreana and Grace,” said Metaxas Makedos, the team’s head coach.
Victoria Cabral and Ava Makedos led the Strikers in scoring with 14 goals each (tied for second in the league), while Sophia Viveiros also finished top 10 in the league with eight goals on the season.
And then there was tournament play …
The Strikers were dominant in a number of tournaments, winning four in total throughout the summer and fall. In early June, the girls won the Peterborough Challenge Cup, winning five straight games – including the gold medal final, in which they beat Durham FC on penalty kicks.
Woodstock won a trio to games in the Georgetown Tournament to capture that title (with a 4-0 win over Orangeville), and also went undefeated in the Brantford Tournament to win gold there as well. An exciting 1-0 win over the host team in a sudden-death final was the clincher in that tourney.
And then the Strikers capped off their season in late September with a fourth tournament victory at the Woodbridge Classic, again going a perfect 5-0 and winning the gold-medal final 1-0 over Croatia Norval.
In other words, winning was the name of the game this year for the Woodstock Strikers, and the U13 Girls team enjoyed their entire season, which also included participation in the Ontario Cup and the British Soccer Team Camp (in August). The future is certainly bright for this group of girls – both on and off the pitch.
Makedos, the team’s coach, says the team’s success was due to a number of factors.
“First, it was the players’ dedication and passion to learn the game, always being committed to learning – both on and off the field,” Makedos said. “And we had true dedication from parents to being part of the plan for short and long-term success. And, of course, Woodstock Soccer creates a fantastic competitive program for all teams to thrive.”
Now (late fall), the 2005 girls are in the final stages of finalizing their team roster. If you are interested, please visit: www.woodstocksoccer.com/competitive-soccer/youth
Contributions by Metaxas Makedos
