Comeback Postseason

With the season coming to a close, the Senior Boys Soccer team headed to Vancouver last week to compete at the Provincial Championships for the 3rd year in a row. A week earlier, the boys had finished 3rd at the Island Championships, beating out Brooks Secondary 1-0 to win themselves a bronze medal, qualifying for the “The Show”. Arriving in Vancouver on Sunday night, the boys hunkered down for the post-season finale.  Monday morning they kicked off against a gritty Notre Dame squad. After Ope O, Rogers ‘19 scored Brentwood’s first goal of the tournament, the boys seemed to take charge of the game, outplaying and outworking the Notre Dame team. Unfortunately, with about fifteen minutes to play Notre Dame snagged a goal of their own which left the match at one goal apiece. 1-1 draw. Under three hours later, the boys began their seconds match vs. one of the top ranked teams from the mainland: Langley Secondary. Within the first two minutes of play Ope won Brentwood a corner kick which Arnau T, Ellis ‘20 floated onto the head of Jack N-G, Ellis ‘21 to open the scoring. Brentwood controlled the rest of the first half, and the beginning of the second, until Langley scored two spectacular goals to turn the tables. Brentwood fought hard but could not manage to get the game back to level, ending matchday one with a record of 0-1-1. Matchday two started of with a blast. A blast of cold that is. The boys walked off the bus to near zero degree temperatures and a turf covered by a thick sheet of frost. After an intense warm up and pregame, the field started to thaw, and so did the lads. Brentwood jumped out of the gates. Having two goals disallowed early on, they managed to grab two real goals before half time: an own-goal from the L.V. Rogers center back, and a brilliant outside off the foot of striker Arnau T. The second half opened the floodgates of Brentwood goals, with Erik L, Ellis ‘21, Ifeanyi A, Whittall ‘21, and Captain Ben M, Privett ‘19 getting on the scoresheet. The match finished 5-0 in favour of Brentwood. The win vs. L.V. Rogers was not enough to push Brentwood into the top half of the draw, but it did set us up for a much-anticipated game against Island rival St. Michaels University School from Victoria. In our previous meeting in September SMUS had gotten the better of us at the ISAs. This time we came out and dominated the entire game, coming within inches of several goals. With twenty minutes to go in the game Ankit B, Privett ‘21 netted his first goal of the tournament, giving us a one goal edge over SMUS. Under ten minutes later, Ankit had another strike which beat the keeper and rang off the post, leaving the sophomore with an easy tap in within five meters of the wide open net. Game over. Brentwood 2, SMUS 0. Were not 2-1-1. The grand finale was Brentwood vs. Alpha for 9th place. Alpha had been undefeated so far in the tournament, with three ties in their group play and a win in their first crossover game. The Brentwood boys showed no fear, and after a slow start to the contest, the men in red began to toy with the opposition. Chance after chance was created by Ben M and Noah H, Privett ‘19. Will M, Privett ‘20 and Ankit had a few goalscoring opportunities as well but the Alpha goalkeeper stood his ground and forced the game into a penalty shootout. After 8 penalties had been taken, the game was decided. 4-2 in favour of Alpha.  Heads were held high, and tears were kept in, because no matter what the result the boys knew the progress they had made over the season. They knew that they were easily among the top teams in the province, and had showed it over the last three days. Juan N, Whittall ‘20 was awarded Most Outstanding Goalkeeper, allowing only three goals in Brentwood’s net over the course of the five game tournament, and Noah H was named to the Commissioner's XI as the best performer on the Brentwood squad during the competition.  A big congratulations goes out to all of the Grade 12s, Noah H, Caden K, Ope A, Mika B, Isaac S, and most of all to our Captain, Ben M, who led us with experience and class throughout the year. We will miss all of you and wish you the best of luck in your future football.  One final thank you to Mr Mallete, Mr Reynolds, and especially Mr Barrett, whose patient coaching helped guide us through another great season of Brentwood Soccer. Jack N-G, Ellis ‘21