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Victoria is a beautiful place for the GNS CAIS Girls’ Soccer team. The last time the CAIS Girls’ Championships were hosted in Victoria was ten years ago. On this very day, in 2002, our soccer girls defeated Holy Trinity 1–0 to claim GNS’s first and (until today) only CAIS title. Sunday, on the SMUS soccer field, our girls did it again—this time with an emphatic 2–0 victory over the Sacred Heart School of Montreal. The girls were dominant throughout the tournament, with 6 wins and two draws—one of which occurred against Sacred Heart on the opening day of the tournament. There, the girls fought back from a 2–0 deficit to tie the game at 2–2. And while they might have been disappointed at not going on to win the game, it was a performance that nonetheless showed the character and determination of the team, and perhaps gave a hint of greater things to come.
The Greatness of Small
“This is a sweet home victory,” said a very happy Justin Parish at the final whistle, “but it also started at home, in our Soccer School.” Coach Parish not only presided over this magnificent triumph, but has also coached all but two of the fifteen girls on this team in the Soccer School at GNS. The only reason those other two girls were not part of the Soccer School? Because they just came to GNS this year! ”This team was very talented, to be sure,” he said. “But their style of play; their understanding and trust of one another; the way they moved the ball, compared to all of their opponents—that takes time and dedication, and these girls have dedicated themselves to soccer excellence for a long time now.” The one reoccurring comment about this team was how small it was compared to all of its opponents. Yet the size differences only served to heighten just how much skill, intelligent soccer, teamwork and fearlessness can—and did, this weekend!—trump size and strength. From their very beginnings in the program, GNS soccer players are taught to value and live the beautiful side of the game.
The GNS Community Unites
Mully Jackson, the CAIS Girls team’s long-serving manager, captured the joy of the day—as well as the essence of why GNS is such a remarkable community—quite accurately, when she said, “A special thanks to the coaches: Justin Parish, head coach and the two senior girls, Jessie Grundmann and Zoë Hopkins who put countless hours into the team. Their time and dedication in coaching the team is reflected in today’s results. It was difficult not to notice that the majority of the fan support was for GNS. Not only did we have parents of the players, but also we had grandparents, aunts and uncles, GNS alumni, and many current GNS students and staff who came to support our girls. It truly reflects what GNS is, when there were so many people throughout the weekend simply there to support ‘our GNS family’.”
The Fearless Leaders
The last word on this triumph rightly goes to the four Grade 9s who were playing in their final CAIS tournament. Kiara Hopkins, who played in a remarkable four CAIS tournaments, said, “Every girl who plays soccer at GNS dreams firstly of making the CAIS team and secondly of winning the CAIS tournament. I am so proud to be a part of the team that did it! It was particularly special in my Grade 9 year in front of our dedicated GNS supporters.” Caleigh Macpherson, who just joined us this year, said, “I was honoured to be selected to represent GNS in the CAIS tournament, particularly since I am new to the school. The girls and the coaches welcomed me to the team, and to win the whole tournament was an absolutely incredible experience. I couldn’t have asked for a more supportive team, an amazing coach and not to mention the great amount of support we were shown throughout the whole CAIS tournament.” Like Caleigh, Ellie Mcleod just joined us this year, and so this was quite the way to mark her debut in a GNS Soccer uniform: “I feel so incredibly lucky to have been part of a team like this,” she said. “Everyone has been so welcoming and friendly, which was really nice because this was the first real soccer tournament in which I have ever played. I am so excited!” Lynaea Korol-Filbey played in two CAIS tournaments, and she might very well have captured the one word that not only defined this team’s success but also all GNS’s team’s successes, when she said, “It was incredible to be part of a team where we could rely on each other to give 100% and never give up. We were fearless!” And so they were. Congratulations to the 2012 GNS CAIS Girls Soccer team: deserving and fearless National Champions!
