The competitive Sundre soccer U-12 squad recently attended a division finals tournament held in Irricana, placing fourth overall.
The Saturday, June 24 competition saw four teams from the Big Country Soccer Association west district go up against four squads from the east district, said co-coaches Bailey Skorodenski and Jessika Lennox.
The team played three games, making their way to the bronze medal match, which they narrowly lost. The first game against the Three Hills B team, which was ranked first in the east division, ended up tied at 5 with the Sundre squad winning in a shootout.
The second game against Carstairs was a nail-bitter that ended in a tight 4-3 loss for the local team. However, considering that Carstairs team had beat Sundre 7-0 earlier this season, the coaches were impressed by their team's improved performance.
"They came a long way in the season, that's for sure," said Skorodenski about the Sundre squad.
"I'm proud of them."
The third and final bronze medal game against the Three Hills A squad ended with a final score of 2-0 that left the Sundre team in fourth place. Throughout their time playing together over the past couple of months, the squad continued to grow as a team, the coaches agreed.
"From our first practice until the end of the season, it was a whole new team," said Lennox.
Winding up the local squad's season was a friendly parents versus players match on Monday, June 26 followed by a pizza supper at a local restaurant.
This was their first year coaching, and both said they would again get involved next season.
"You couldn't ask for a better group of kids," said Lennox.
The coaches said the team is always looking for more players, and that registration for the 2017 season will take place next spring. The organization can be followed for updates on social media by searching for Soccer Sundre Summer and Winter.
