Teams can get lost in the shuffle when leagues realign divisions.
When Calgary Women’s Soccer Association (CWSA) re-did its age-group divisions to start this season, Cochrane Rangers had to re-assign various players to match the groups. Players on Rangers over-35-year-old (Over-35) team were redistributed to Over-30 and Over-40 teams. Amid the changes, Rangers new Over-30 Classics women’s team has managed to keep its boots to the turf, most recently defeating Jags Alumni 3-1 on July 18 in Calgary.
“It’s good. It’s going to take a little while until the teams find themselves,” Rangers Over-30 head coach John Morrison said of his side hanging in the middle of the pack at 4-6-1 in CWSA Over-30 Classics standings. “We have a little on the older side and a little on the younger side.”
Against Jags, Amelie Drouin scored twice for Cochrane with Karen Malone adding a single. Rangers dressed 14 players in the 3-1 win over Jags.
“We actually have a 28-year-old who plays because there’s a grandfather rule,” Morrison explained of age variances as CWSA divisions transition. “So we can kind of get that stable roster. You can have a couple of players who are 28 and above who have already played for Cochrane. They do that just to keep the team together so nobody has to look for a team type of thing. It’s ultimately to develop teams in the leagues.”
Every little bit helps when trying to assemble a side for summer soccer.
“Outdoor it’s always the same. Indoor, no trouble (fielding a team),” Morrison said. “Outdoor, you have other activities happening. You have vacations and things like that. It’s a challenge.”
It’s a challenge Rangers Over-30 women appear to be embracing.
