Vanier Wins Second Game In A Row Versus Weyburn

With strong goaltending and an offense that clicked in the first half of play before running out of gas in the second half was enough for the Vanier Spirits to defeat the visiting Weyburn Eagles 4 - 0 in 4A girls soccer action on Wednesday afternoon.

It was a strong start for the Spirits who did all of the scoring in the first half of play.

“It went pretty well. Initially in our first half it was pretty good. We were able to pass the ball effectively and execute some of the plays we are working on. The second half exposed are lack of cardio once again…they definitely were running out of gas,” Spirits head coach Daniel Atkins said in a post game interview.

Cadence Olson (left) and Ynah Ombawa from Vanier head downfield - MJ Independent photo.

The lack of cardio and a poorer second half than the first half had Atkins saying “so we have a lot to work on in our practices. for cardio and positionings that we still need to work out.”

Whether the two time provincial 4A Girls Soccer champion can threepeat with yet another provincial crown is still up in the air.

“We’re on the path but we have a lot of work to do before we are anywhere as confident as we have been in the past,” he said.

Cadence Olson (left) fighting for ball control - MJ Independent photo

“In the past we knew we had to work hard to get there. And we did work hard and we did get there. I am hopeful we can do that once again but it always a new situation every year. A new group of girls, not completely but, a new combination of girls and so we still have got lots to do.”

The highlights of the Wednesday win has a lot to do with goalkeeper Rylan Morhart‘s play, he said.

During the game Morhart came out and challenged the Weyburn players and with aggressive goal tending and key saves the win was especially rewarding as it was her birthday.

Her smart play was appreciated by Atkins.

“Our goaltender Rylan, she was outstanding. She had an amazing save in the second half which popped the ball overtop of the net. Everyone thought it was in. It didn’t look like it from where I was standing but yeah it was a beautiful save.”

Weyburn Eagles goalkeeper Natalie Morisette watches as the third goal by the Vanier Vikings is about to enter the net in first half action - MJ Independent photo

Despite the score and the Spirts racking up four first half goals the Eagles still had the opportunities to have scored many goals but just missed the target.

“They had as many good chances in the first half as we had. We were just ab le to finish our goals. They hit the post and the corner.

The Spirits offense was powered by two goals Michaela DeCorby and two goals by Cadence Olson.

Asked who stood out of all of his players he said it was goalkeeper Morhart.

“She was flawless back there as I could tell…she made all the right choices through the game. It’s maybe fitting it is her birthday today. That is a little bit of an extra birthday gift,” he said.

When approaching the upcoming games against powerhouse teams of Yorkton and Swift Current he said winning against either of those teams would be a great accomplishment.

“It is nice to start off with a couple of wins but we have a lot of work to do.”

Asked if he had anything to add he said he was happy with the winning streak.

“We usually start off with a losing streak so this new for us, we are enjoying it.”