It’s gold or go home for Mavericks 09 at the Tier IV provincials.
The undefeated St. Albert Women’s Soccer League team is gunning for the top prize in the eight-team competition this weekend at the ESA Complex.
“We’re definitely looking to win provincials. We have a really good shot at it,” said striker Suzanne Schulz.
In group I the Mavericks play Saturday against CWSA I at 10 a.m. and EDSA II at 6 p.m. and Sunday against EDSA III at 12:30 p.m.
Monday’s crossover medal finals start at 11 a.m.
The last time the Mavericks represented SAWSL at provincials as the division one pennant winner was 2010. They placed fourth overall, the highest finish by a SAWSL team in the tournament since the Morinville Ladies won bronze in 2005.
“We’re ready to go,” Schulz said. “We feel we can get the job done.”
Sunday’s 4-0 decision over the Lady Titans in the division semifinals was the 15th consecutive victory by the Mavericks this season under head coach Shane Moore.
“Shane has been an awesome coach. He has been working real hard getting our team ready for provincials, especially our passing and formations,” Schulz said.
The Mavericks are led by an explosive scoring attack that’s averaging 5.8 goals per game and an air-tight defence with nine shutouts.
“We have an excellent number of all-around players and there is not one person that is way better than everyone else. Everyone really excels and we really work together as a team,” Schulz said. “Everyone is also really positive and encouraging. We’re always out here to have a good time and winning is a bonus too.”
The last game for the Mavericks before provincials was closer than the score indicates. The fourth-place Titans held the Mavericks in check until Schulz’s goal in the 70th minute opened the floodgates at Forest Park field.
“It was a good test for provincials,” Schulz said. “They gave us a good run. It was a little harder than we expected but near the end we kind of got it together and came through.”
Schulz broke the stalemate by intercepting a low kick by the Titans’ keeper. After collecting the ball with her feet, she dribbled unmarked closer to the net before finishing off the gift goal.
“When you stand there you’re always kind of hoping you can get the ball like that,” she said. “I was open in the 18 [yard box] so you capitalize on those.”
Schulz, 31, was the wrong person to turn the ball over to. The mother of two was the Golden Boot Award winner as the No. 1 division one scorer this year with 17 goals, three more than runner-up Suzanne Gaetz of Morinville.
Schulz was one of four Mavericks among the top 10 scoring leaders.
“It was nice to come out ahead because there is a lot of really good scorers on my team. They were right on my tail,” said the project accountant for WCMI Construction in St. Albert.
Schulz’s marker triggered a four-goal outburst during an 11-minute span against a different keeper than the one that started the game.
Sarah Crerar punched the ball through the keeper’s grasp while marked to make it 2-0.
A high shot by Christy Debienne slipped through the keeper’s hands as she battled the sun to see the ball.
A cross by Debienne was tapped in by Chelsey Marques to round out the scoring.
“If we could get one in, everyone kind of knew we would come through,” said Schulz, a former Allies player who broke into the league at age 16.
Marques and Jen Bruinsma also ran miles up and down the field for the Mavericks. Bruinsma was a workhorse on outside defence in place of Kathleen Warwick, who suffered a knee injury at the end of the first half.
Both teams had chances to score in the first half but were unable to finish.
“In the second half we really focused on our passing and looking to open spaces and just working the whole field. We used our defence as well to work it up. Krista [Gordon], our goalie, also made some amazing saves,” said Schulz, a Mavericks fixture since 2007 who played for their division two farm team the last two years before earning a promotion.
The next playoff game for the Mavericks is the Sept. 9 final against Morinville (12-4). Kickoff is 5 p.m. at Eldorado field.
