With wind-whipped cheeks, reddened knees and a whole lot of heart, the Bow Valley senior girls ended a soccer empire last week by edging out Cochrane High School for the first time since 2009.
“I’m ecstatic,” said goalie McKenna Stephenson, 16, as her teammates hugged around her. “It’s kind of like a dream. It doesn’t feel real.”
The town’s two high schools are no strangers to the pitch, playing soccer against each other every year – including three times this season. But for every game since Michael Jackson was still alive and Avatar was still in movie theatres, Cochrane High has come out on top.
At the beginning of last Thursday’s divisional semi-final match at Rangers Field, there was no real indication that this time would be any different. But Bow Valley coach Rob Makreel said he knew when the Cobras scored their first goal – and the Bobcats answered shortly after with their own ball in the net – that his girls were truly in it to win it.
“As soon as we did that, I knew they weren’t ready to give up,” he said. “Our girls dug deep.”
Bow Valley player Maddie Kazcur said she felt an energy on the field right after her team’s first goal that made her think that this just might be their time.
“Every time they score, we (usually) get down and we give up – and we didn’t,” she said. “I just thought about my next touch, my next move.”
After Bow Valley’s second goal, Kazcur said the team “absolutely knew we couldn’t play back” if they hoped to stay on the winning side of the scoreboard – and even though Cochrane High turned on some heat through the second half, the Bobcats still kept the play in the Cobras end for most of the rest of the game.
“It was a lot of pressure,” said goalie McKenna Stephenson, who made a few fabulous saves to help maintain the lead. “I think we really played our angles well (and) worked together as a team.”
When time finally ran out, fans leapt from the bleachers, Bow Valley players rushed from the bench toward players on the field and the girls cradled together in a massive group hug.
“I’ve waited a long time for that,” said a thrilled Makreel as he celebrated with his team.
Makreel said the crush on the Cobras to win every game must have been immense as the months and years without a loss went on.
“I think it’s hard for them,” he said. “Every game, they’re expected to win. Every game, they have something to lose.”
Cobras coach Carolyn McLeod said she understands that feeling all too well, since she’s been living it for so many seasons. The Cochrane High players were understandably emotional after the loss.
“We just think of every game as a game you want to win,” McLeod said.
With their heads held high, Bow Valley headed to the divisional gold medal game on Tuesday, but weren’t able to rise above the strength of Springbank High School and the match ended at 3-1. Cochrane High barreled through Bert Church 9-1 to bring home the bronze.
A proud Makreel said despite the loss in the finals, there were no tears and no disappointment after such a tremendous season.
“Our girls were extremely satisfied with the silver. Our goal was to go to the gold medal game,” said a proud Makreel. “This is a first in the history of Bow Valley.”
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