“Overall, it’s a positive group of young women who just want to be part of a school team and have a good time. By having a good time and wanting to learn, we’re seeing the benefits of wins.”
The St. The Martin de Porres Kodiaks are in the midst of a five-game winning streak in the 2022 high school girls’ soccer season.
The Kodiaks, differing from Airdrie’s three public high schools, compete in the Calgary Senior High School Athletics Association (CSHSAA). This fall, they are competing in Division 4, and after six games, occupy second place in the league with a 5-1-0 record.
After starting the season with a 3-0 loss to Bishop McNally in early September, the Kodiaks have won their ensuing five matches – and they’ve done it in style, scoring 29 goals and conceding just three. They’ve recorded three “clean sheets,” which is soccer terminology for a shutout.
“It’s been a really exciting season,” said Jessica Hamilton, a teacher at the Catholic high school who is co-coaching the Kodiaks’ soccer team this fall.
“I think it’s an overall commitment of the whole team to work together. Our midfielders are keeping things moving forward, our defenders are hustling back when needed, and our strikers are in the right positions to score the goals. Everyone is learning and playing their positions very well, and it’s coming together.”
The Kodiaks won their most recent match 6-2 over Lord Beaverbrook on Oct. 3. Hamilton said after a bit of a slow start, the Airdronians improved their play to build up a four-goal cushion by the end of the 90-minute match.
“The one thing we rely heavily on is momentum,” she explained. “A lot of our games start off slow, but once we get our momentum going, things start to fall into place.”
Making matters particularly impressive are the team’s demographics. According to Hamilton, the bulk of St. Martin de Porres’ roster is in Grade 10, and there are only two returning seniors from last year’s team.
“I think the thing my co-coach Cindy Wagner and I have discovered is how within a short amount of time, how well our girls have come together to play the game and to do it as well as they can,” she said. “Their passing, their movement of the ball for such a young team is quite good. We’re lucky to have two experienced goalkeepers, which also helps us.
“Overall, it’s a positive group of young women who just want to be part of a school team and have a good time. By having a good time and wanting to learn, we’re seeing the benefits of wins.”
Despite their strong showing, St. Martin de Porres is only in second place at the moment, behind the unbeaten (5-0-0) Bishop McNally Timberwolves.
With playoffs beginning next Wednesday, Hamilton predicts another battle against the Timberwolves would be the biggest challenge of the Kodiaks’ season yet, assuming the two teams meet in the post-season.
“Hopefully we can continue on our winning streak and get to the finals, which could prove to be…our most difficult game,” she said.
For Kodiaks scores and schedules, visit calgaryhighschoolsports.ca