It’s a topsy-turvy soccer calendar that sees the World Cup starting in November. But what isn’t out of place this month is the boys’ high school season careening to a close, as it always has. Well, save for the dark 2020 pandemic season.
Oak Bay, Reynolds Roadrunners and Royal Bay Ravens are the top-three South teams and Dover Bay top-rated from the North for the Vancouver Island Triple-A championship taking place today and Thursday.
The South teams jump into the Island fray after the swirl of cup play in which Reynolds defeated Royal Bay and Oak Bay beat Single-A Glenlyon Norfolk School in the Colonist Cup semifinals to set up the Bays-Roadrunners final Nov. 16 at Centennial Stadium.
Soccer seasons around the world run concurrent competitions. Island high schools, which have produced numerous future pros and national-team players over the years for Canada, are no different as the teams now turn their attention to the Islands. Two teams will advance to the B.C. Triple-A championship Nov. 24-26 at Burnaby Lake.
“We have a strong group this year, that is playing well, and has a good shot at it,” said Royal Bay co-coach Lindsay Machin.
Royal Bay is led by a pair of talented Grade 12 Japanese exchange students — Towa Matsuki and Mitsuki Ando — who have played with the Ravens since Grade 10.
The Ravens are hosting the Triple-A Islands and open this morning at 8:50 on their home turf against the North No. 3 Cowichan Thunderbirds. Action continues at Royal Bay with Dover Bay meeting South No. 5 Spectrum at 10:35 a.m., the Ravens playing Oak Bay at 12:20 p.m. and Reynolds facing Spectrum at 2:10 p.m. The second venue is across town at Hampton Park, where Oak Bay plays South No. 6 Belmont Bulldogs at 8:50 a.m., Reynolds meets South No. 4 Claremont Spartans at 10:35 a.m., Cowichan takes on Belmont at 12:20 p.m. and Dover Bay plays Claremont at 2:10 p.m.
Round-robin action resumes at both venues at 8:50 a.m., 10:35 a.m. and 12:20 p.m. on Thursday with the final at 2:15 p.m. at Starlight Stadium in Langford.
Meanwhile, GNS and Lambrick Park Lions were meeting in the Island Double-A championship final on Tuesday night at UVic with both teams qualified for provincials in Burnaby. St. Michaels University School Blue Jags were playing the Gulf Islands Scorpions in the bronze-medal match.
