Central Cyclones Repeat As Boys 4A Provincial Soccer Champs

Story and Photos By Robert Thomas

For the second consecutive year the Central Cyclones are the Boys Provincial 4A champions defeating the Yorkton Sacred Heart team 3 -1 indoors at the Yara Centre Saturday afternoon.

Led by three second half goals by Landon Meacher the hometown Cyclones hoisted him aloft following the win. Meacher would score on two shots crossing from left to to right as well as a penalty kick.

Yorkton Sacred Heart’s R Gibsen would score a second half goal.

**Riding The Wave** - Landon Meacher enjoys the ride after his Central Cyclones teammates hoisted him aloft during the victory celebration - MJ Independent photo

**Trying To Get Around** - E Fontanilla (left) from Yorkton Sacred Heart tries to get around Central Cyclones M Pryadko - MJ Independent photo

“I have never been interviewed before,” Central Cyclones Landon Meacher told the media scrum following scoring all three of his team’s goals in the defeat of perennial rivals Yorkton Sacred Heart. But after admitting butterflies Meacher would pull off the interview like a seasoned pro.

“I think in the first half they completely dominated us. Especially in midfield, I think we struggled to find our men in the mid but after they were getting tired in the second half because they didn’t have as many subs as us,” he said, adding “in the second half we kind of picked it up in the mid field and played it out wide that led to some of my goals which were kind of the edge of the box there.”

**He Shoots But Is Denied** - Central Cyclones goalkeeper Alfred Benson Muya makes a sprawling save - MJ Independent photo

**Up In The Air** - Central Cyclones Abdul Ali (right) up against Yorkton Sacred Heart R Gilsen - MJ Independent photo

**Hot Pursuit** - Central Cyclones Abdul Ali is in hot pursuit of Yorkton Sacred Hearts N Mushanski - MJ Independent photo

Meacher would score two of his goals on a diagonal shot that went from right to left leaving Yorkton Sacred Heart’s netminder helpless against them.

His third goal came as a result of a penalty kick. The grade 10 Meacher was about to use his speed to break away when he was hauled down by a Yorkton defender resulting in the kick he did not miss.

“In the end it was a really good fight. Especially in the beginning of the second half. It was neck and neck and I am sure it was worrying for both teams. Especially for me when I had it in their half it was scary. I knew they had the power to put it in the net when they got it there but so did we,” he said when asked to break down what happened in the game.

“I guess we just got lucky with ours.”

**Squeezing By** - Central Cyclones H Faisal (left) gets around a Yorkton Sacred Hearts defender - MJ Independent photo

**Setting Up A Header** - Yorkton Sacred Hearts N Mushanski (left) and Central Cyclones Landon Meacher compete for position to make a header - MJ Independent photo

**Making A Dash** - Central Cyclone player K Dingle makes a mad dash after finding open field - MJ Independent photo

**Body Stop** - Central Cyclones captain uses his body to stop a shot - MJ Independent photo

The loss it bitter sweet for Yorkton Sacred Heart’s coach Scott Hoffort who after a dozen years as head coach won’t be returning next season because after 31 years as the school’s Catholic Studies teacher he will be superannuating (retiring).

During his tenure as the team’s head coach Hoffort has led them to six provincial championships.

Prior to the medal presentation Moose Jaw’s Ray Hawlyk thanked Hoffort for being a competitor and rival over the years. Hoffort received a loud ovation from those gathered.

“Yes I am on the last run,” Hoffort told MJ Independent in a post game interview.

Asked about his feelings on the game including how Yorkton had a much shorter bench.

“I think our guys put out a heck of an effort. We made the best out of the situation we could and our guys worked really hard today. We nothing to be you know (ashamed of). We played hard and that is what we wanted,” he said.

Asked how he felt finishing off his coaching career as a silver medal Hoffort said it “was exiting.”

“It was exiting and that is what it is all about. High school sports is about going out there and having fun and learning and competing. And that is what our kids did. It is great,” he said.

About what he would miss in retiring he said “I am going to miss the team. I am going to miss the relationships”

Asked if in retirement Hoffort would be back as coach he said he was unsure but was looking forward to being a spectator.

“We’ll have to see what happens I have got some pretty great coaches that are going to be dealing with the program.”

**Flying Through The Air** - Yorkton Sacred Hearts N Mushanski (left) sits on the ground after stopping Central Cyclones captain who went sprawling on the play - MJ Independent photo

**Half Time Advice** - Cyclones head coach Holly McCorriston talks to the team during the half time break - MJ Independent photo

While Yorkton Sacred Heart will be looking for a new head coach next season it is something the Central Cyclones won’t have to worry about as head coach Holly McCorriston said she will return for the 2023 season and try to threepeat as provincial champions.

“I already have notes in my head of things we can continue to work on and where we are going to have to improve so I am looking forward to it,” McCorriston said.

“It’s nice to see such a hard season end this way because it had its up and downs for sure.”

Asked if she was proud of the team she replied “Absolutely. Cannot say enough about them. Over the moon. They are fantastic players. I hope they go far.”

**Up In The Air** - Central Cyclones Landon Meacher (left) versus Yorkton Sacred Hearts O Olaleye who went airborne on the play - MJ Independent photo

**Hanging On** - Central Cyclones captain hangs onto a Yorkton Sacred Hearts player as they jockey for position - MJ Independent photo

**Tight Play** - Game play was tight at times during the highly competitive game - MJ Independent photo

“It was a good game. It was competitive. And it was a little bit nail biting at times. So they played well and they played to the end. There was a lot of late goals.”

Asked about Landon Meacher’s three goal performance she said he was a good player.

“His speed and endurance are key but also his skills on the ball. And he is soccer smart. He is a great player,” she said.

She spoke - despite Meacher scoring all three of the Cyclones’ goals - about the win being part of a team effort from the starters right up to the players who subbed into the game.

“I am proud of all of them. They played as a team and that is what really mattered here,” she said.

Asked about playing indoors - due to the weather - instead of outdoors and if it made a difference in the play she said it did.

“Playing inside is faster and so we had to adjust and I think that happened again in this game. And because this team is faster it took a little while to adjust. Because, you know, every time you try to stop the ball it bounces a little bit more. So the whole game had to slow down and after the half we had that in mind and we think it worked for us.”