It will be a confident group of Feildians soccer players taking to the artificial turf of King George V Park this evening (7 p.m.) for a provincial women’s soccer game against the Calvin Randell Strikers FC squad from C.B.S.
That’s because the Feildians have been on fire this season in Breen’s Jubilee Trophy all-Newfoundland play, suffering only one loss, a 3-0 setback to Holy Cross back in early August, in their first appearance of the year.
Since then, the Double Blues are unbeaten in 10 games. Feildians are 3-0-1 so far in September.
“Despite the pandemic, the girls were working on their own fitness and skill work at home, so that’s an indication right there of the dedication we have." — Head coach Mike Oliver
It’s a continuance, really, from last season when Feildians had a solid showing at the national senior women’s championship staged in St. John’s. Feildians reached the bronze-medal game in that tournament before losing 1-0 to British Columbia.
“After the first game (this season), we’ve certainly come together,” said coach Mike Oliver. “Despite the pandemic, the girls were working on their own fitness and skill work at home, so that’s an indication right there of the dedication we have.
“Our oldest player (Stacey Hanlon) is only 24. We have a lot of kids 18, 19 and 20.”
Ancient rivals Feildians and Holy Cross are battling it out for first place in the Jubilee circuit, with the Crusaders currently on top by five points.
Come playoff time, first or second won’t mean a whole lot. That’s because the top two teams will meet in the Page Playoff 1-2 game Oct. 8. The winner goes directly to the final, with the loser playing the winner of the semifinal (featuring Nos. 3 vs 4 in the final standings) two days later.
Feildians last won the provincial women’s championship in 2000 with the ladies’ all-Newfoundland club championship. That was a third straight crown for Feildians, who also won in 1999 and 1998 in a dominant stretch. The ’98 championship was, at the time, the first provincial senior women’s soccer championship in three years.
Feildians won 18 straight games during that 1998 season. Guards upset Feildians in the 2001 all-Newfoundland club championship, and Mount Pearl won in 2002.
It’s been pretty much all Holy Cross since 2010, with eight titles.
That includes the past four straight championships for the Crusaders. Last year, Feildians lost to Holy Cross in the provincial final, but still got to play in nationals because the championship was held in St. John’s and Newfoundland was granted two berths.
Four Holy Cross players – Holly O’Neill, Kate Hickey, Julie Crocker and Nicole Torraville – occupy the top four slots in the Jubilee league’s scoring race, but the Feildians’ Zoe Rowe, Katie Joyce and Hanlon are in the top 10.
Another game is also scheduled for tonight at King George V. Holy Cross tangles with the St. John’s Soccer Club at 9 p.m.
