Clearwater Secondary School’s boys soccer team has had a strong start to the season, reports Barb Coates, who coaches the squad along with Ryan Wilkes.
Tuesday of last week, Sept. 27, the boys defeated Barriere 5-2, with three of the goals coming from Lucas Taniguti. According to the coach, Taniguti showed great instinct in finding the net and scoring the first hat-trick of the year for the Raiders. Other stars included Owen Sim, who finished off a lovely Clearwater move, striking the ball high into the net on the half volley. Danny Gontcharov scored Clearwater’s last goal of the evening after playing most of the game as the CSS goalie.
Last week’s victory comes on top of an earlier 4-0 win over Kamloops Christian School during the team’s first game of the season.
“Our goal this year is to make it to the Okanagans, at least,” said Coates. “Only the top teams from the Okanagans advance to Provincials. This year will be a strong development year so next year we should come back with a strong group of Grade 12 players.”
The Clearwater squad is a combined junior/senior team. It has no Grade 12 players but does have a strong group from Grade 11. Members of the league are Ashcroft, Kamloops Christian, Barriere, St. Ann’s plus Clearwater.
The next two games will determine if Clearwater will advance to the Okanagans or not.
