The Greenwood Bombers women’s soccer team dominated the Canadian Armed Forces Atlantic Regional soccer championship in Gagetown August 21 to 25.
Not having won a single game at regionals since 2019, the team trained hard all summer and played in the Valley District Soccer women’s league to prepare for what would be a hard week of competition.
“Our team hasn’t been favoured to win in a long time, we’ve always been the underdogs and haven’t been taken seriously,” assistant team captain Corporal Kristine Kennedy said. “This year’s team was a group that melded together, on and off the field. Everyone held their own and performed their role on the field beautifully. We created a winning team together, and I’m elated to be a part of it.”
August 21 was a travel and training day for the team; then, following the opening ceremonies August 22, the Bombers faced the hometown team and reigning regional 2022 champions, the Gagetown Warriors. After the first 45 minutes, Greenwood had a 1-0 lead with a goal from Corporal Brandi Weibel. In the second half, the Bombers secured the win with a goal from Aviator Kas Selwood and another from Weibel, to bring the final score to 3-0.
The Bombers’ second game kicked off later that same day (the only women’s team to have to play twice in one day) against the Halifax Mariners. Thanks to a goal from Lieutenant Sophia King in the first five minutes, and hard-fought defence the rest of the game, the Bombers held on for a 1-0 win, earning them a bye to the finals Friday morning.
“Going into the tournament, our goal was to make it to the finals,” said coach Captain Glenn Duncan. “After winning both of our games on day one, I knew we stood a good chance of winning the whole thing.”
In the final match of the round robin, Gagetown topped Halifax 2-0, with goals from Corporal Anouk Trottier-Boucher and Sergeant Stephanie Munro, but this game was considered a “rubber match,” since the two teams would face each other again the next day in the semi-finals. This time, Halifax came out ahead 2-1, with both Halifax goals scored by Sailor Second Class Becka Whey and the lone Gagetown goal from Master Corporal Ally Mabie.
It was cool and overcast for the Friday morning final between Greenwood and Halifax. Both sides played hard: Halifax had many shots on net, hitting the post at least four times and Greenwood goalkeeper Private Ana Messier made multiple spectacular saves. In the 94th minute of play (the full 90 minutes plus five minutes of stoppage time due to injuries), Weibel went on a breakaway and scored, ending the deadlock between the two tough opponents, winning the game – and the tournament, for Greenwood.
“It felt unreal to score the winning goal,” Weibel said. “I thought the game would go into overtime so, when I had the opportunity to score and it worked, I was ecstatic! Everyone put such hard work into that entire game. It was amazing to be able to bring it all together and win.”
Throughout the week, the Bombers were undefeated and goalkeeper Messier conceded zero goals, earning the award for most valuable player of the women’s tournament.
“I was surprised to get MVP,” Messier said, “but I’m really happy to have received it. The amount of work and effort that everyone put into the game made me proud as a keeper. It made my job easier, for sure.”
On the men’s side, Greenwood did not have enough players to put in a team, but Corporal Wes Aucoin, a firefighter with 14 Mission Support Squadron, went as a “floater” and got picked up by Halifax to play goalkeeper. The men’s teams from Halifax and Gagetown faced off in a best-of-five series. Game one went to Gagetown 3-2, after two 15-minute halves of extra time and a shootout. Halifax dominated in the second game, winning 3-0. Game three also went to extra time and a shootout, and Halifax came out on top 3-2, putting them up 2-1 in the series. In game four, Halifax defeated Gagetown 5-0, winning the series and earning their ticket to nationals. Aucoin gave a solid performance in goal every game and earned the tournament MVP for the men’s competition.
The Atlantic regional champions, the Greenwood Bombers women’s team and Halifax Mariners men’s team, will both attend the CAF National Soccer Championship at CFB Borden September 23 to 28. For information, and to watch the semi-finals and finals live, check out the CAF Sports Facebook page.
Greenwood Bombers women’s team member are, from back row, Captain Glenn Duncan, Master Corporal Emily Doyle, Aviator Kas Selwood, Master Corporal Trisha Chipman, Captain Linda Goslin, Second Lieutenant Kate Bruce, Aviator Jenna Yendley, Lieutenant Emma Murphy, Master Corporal Jodie Moase. Across the front are Captain Meagan Duncan, Lieutenant Sophia King, Master Corporal Tracy Smith, Corporal Brandi Weibel, Private Ana Messier, Captain Danielle Beland, Corporal Kate Walker, Corporal Kristine Kennedy and Corporal Elena Barter.
