Soccer season has arrived in Athabasca once again as local teams kicked off their first games of the year May 7.
Teams ranging from U7 to U19 are beginning their seasons across local, tri-county and Edmonton-based leagues after weeks of preparation.
The season’s usual start date got held back a week due to weather, with snow staying on the ground late this year, according to Athabasca Soccer Association president Travis Semashkewich. But he said he’s excited to get games rolling again.
“I’m excited for it to get started,” Semashkewich said. “Everyone’s excited once you get out on the field and start enjoying the game for what it is.”
The number of the players for the association are down this year, Semashkewich said, but he added the association will still field plenty of teams this year, including four older teams competing in the Edmonton Minor Soccer Association.
“There are other sports and other activities people are involved in,” Semashkewich said about why the number of players had dipped. “I do know numbers are up in some of the other activities. It is what it is.”
The association has one tournament planned for Athabasca this year, which Semashkewich said would take place June 23 for U7, U9 and U11.
Athabasca’s U13 mixed team was one of the teams to host its first outdoor practice of the season at the Edwin Parr Composite School (EPC) fields May 3.
U13 mixed player Brilynn Nahorney said it felt good that soccer season was starting up again.
“I feel good because I can be out in the field and run in the wind,” she said in an interview at the practice.
Provincial-winning girls team gets back underway
The members of Athabasca's provincial-winning girls soccer team are back together again for another soccer season.
Athabasca’s U15 girls team were another team to host its first outdoor practice at the EPC fields May 3. The team is comprised entirely of the U14 girls who won gold at Alberta Soccer Tier IV Rural Provincials last season, according to head coach Mark Francis, with three new players joining them.
With Alberta Soccer changing age brackets from even to odd years this season, the entirety of the team was able to stay together, Francis said.
“It’s exciting,” Francis said. “Lot of success last year and we expect to carry it on right from the beginning.”
However, unlike last year, the team will play all of its games this season in Edmonton as part of the Edmonton Minor Soccer Association.
“It’s too bad. I’d like to have the community see this exceptional group of young athletes play,” Francis said. “But the competition’s going to be a step up, which is what we need.”
