The Bert Church Chargers boys' soccer team capped off an unbeaten regular season on May 30, beating the visiting Cochrane Cobras 4-0 at Monklands Park.
The authoritative victory came thanks to a hat-trick from Paramjot Dhaliwal and a goal from Charlie Wiersma. At the other end of the pitch, Bert Church goalkeeper Nolan Kowal kept a clean sheet to see out the three points for the Chargers.
“We played really good,” said Wiersma, a Grade 12 forward and the Chargers' captain this season. “We had a lot of talking, good ball movement – we controlled the game the whole time.”
The Chargers led 1-0 at half-time, and then sealed the three points with a trio of second-half goals.
“We started really good, we just couldn’t score,” Wiersma said. “But as the game progressed, we just kept getting really good chances.”
The result means Bert Church finished the 2023 regular season with an unbeaten 6-0-0 record, putting the Chargers clear at the top of the Rocky View Sports Association (RVSA) standings. In their six matches this spring, the Chargers have outscored their opponents 23-3.
Tuesday's match-up at Monklands was a fitting way to end the regular season, considering Bert Church and Cochrane were the top two teams in the RVSA this year. The Cobras ended the campaign with a 4-2-0 record.
Head coach Sebastien Durand said he wasn't sure exactly what to expect from Cochrane before the game, as he hadn't gotten to scout the team beforehand. While Cochrane's boys' team finished at the bottom of the RVSA last year, this year's Cobras squad turned those fortunes around to become one of the division's strongest sides.
“They had some skill, for sure,” Durand said of the Cobras. “This whole season, we’ve been protecting the middle and keeping the play out. We were trying to stay disciplined, and it’s proven to work all season. We’re going to keep doing that and see where it takes us heading into the finals.”
Speaking of the finals, the Chargers will have June 9 circled on their calendars, as that's the date of the RVSA championship game. Having lost in the final the last two seasons (2022 and 2019), Durand and Wiersma agreed the players will have redemption on their minds as they prepare for the impending playoffs.
As a result of their first-place finish, the Chargers will have a bye through the quarterfinals (taking place June 1), which means their first post-season game will be the division semi-final on June 6. That afternoon, they'll play the winner of the quarterfinal between the fourth- and fifth-place teams.
Though it's been five years since Bert Church's boys' soccer players have gotten to lift the RVSA trophy – the last time was in 2018 – the east Airdrie school tends to produce one of the division's top teams. The Chargers won the RVSA banner back-to-back in 2017 and 2018, and were the top-seeded team heading into the 2019 and 2022 playoffs as well, only to lose narrowly in the final those years.
“The last two seasons that high-school soccer has been played, it’s been the same,” Durand said. “We’ve had a good season leading into the playoffs and then Springbank beats us – I think it was 1-0 and 2-1 [the last two years].
“This year, Springbank is a very different team, but our group is fairly stable. We lost a couple of good players who actually ended up going to play college soccer at Lakeland and Olds, but the rest of the core is still around. That gives us an advantage because we’ve played together for a long time and they play club together as well.”
Overall, Durand is confident the Chargers have put together a winning formula this season, with a combination of talented club soccer players and eager, hard-working student-athletes.
“We’ve honestly had really good effort from everyone on the team,” he said. “Charlie is extremely strong on the ball, and he’s quick. Param is super active, Dakota Arends plays midfield exceptionally well, and uses his body and has good vision on the field.
“When you combine this – and we have a strong defence as well, including a few Grade 9s, which is great to see – all around, we’re effective. We have a great ‘keeper again, with Nolan. That all put together gives us an advantage. You see the results. We’re hoping to keep playing well together.”
For scores, schedules, and other info on RVSA boys' soccer, visit rvsa.rockyview.ab.ca
