The Saanich Fusion U15 girls soccer team is coming off a highly emotional weekend that saw them rise from the depths of disappointment with sky high optimism, only to be crushed again.
The team of Saanich girls was already frustrated when they were disqualified by the Lower Island Soccer Association board of directors on Feb. 15 for using two out-of-catchment players. The disqualification effectively ended the team’s season and chances to the play in the cup playoffs.
In light of the ruling, the Fusion made an appeal to B.C. Soccer, citing other teams in the same league were permitted to compete with additional players from multiple catchments.. On Thursday, March 8, the Fusion learned their appeal B.C. Soccer was upheld.However, it made for a very short turnaround, as the team learned on Friday it was scheduled to play the Riptide (Comox Valley) on Saturday, in Comox.
It was welcome news. At the time, the group of 15 players was“excited” and “thrilled,” coach Caelen Bright said. “
The girls were all in school when we found out at. It’s what we hoped for, that the team would be treated fairly and given a chance to play. We had played all year for this and were suddenly cut out.”
Unfortunately, the optimism was erased when the team lost 4-2 in Comox on Saturday. The cup playoffs lead to the Island championship and, for those that qualify, the cup provincials this summer. However, the Fusion season is over.
A U18 Gorge girls team was also in the same situation and has also won its appeal.
- This story was rewritten to update it the Fusion’s Saturday results.