Two wins in a week means the Cochrane High School Cobras soccer team has leapfrogged over archrivals Bow Valley Bobcats into first place in Rocky View Sports Association league play.
The boys made it three-for-three wins on May 10, when they travelled to Airdrie to face fourth-place Bert Church Chargers, running out 2-1 winners.
“(The Chargers) had a couple of really strong players,” Cobras head coach Carolyn Mcleod said. “There was one guy we literally had to man-mark so that took one of our players out of the formation, which made it challenging, but it was a good result nonetheless.”
After a tight game against tough opposition, the Cobras had a field day in their next match as they smashed WH Croxford – a team that has conceded 34 goals in 3 games – 10-1.
“They’re a younger team, who don’t have any grade 12s, and not a lot to work with,” Mcleod said of Croxford. “When most of the teams put together their roster they just pick grade 12 athletes to fill roles, (Croxford) don’t have that luxury.”
Despite knowing her team might rack up the goals against a weaker side, Mcleod doesn’t change how her team approaches games no matter the opponent.
“I go in hoping we can establish a presence early,” she said. “This gives our guys who haven’t had as much playing time a chance to get out there and try things without feeling pressure.
“It’s important to give everyone exposure.”
The Cobras next face the Bobcats on May 19 at Rangers Field, in what might be the decisive league game of the season. Mcleod is hoping it will be the first game of the campaign where her team can field their full roster.
“We are very aware of how Bow Valley are doing,” she said. “They’re quite strong, and a lot of my guys play with their players at club level, so there’s a good rivalry.
“We’re going to approach the game by throwing as much at them as we can, but it’s going to be tough.”
