For proof of how far the Cowichan U13 Gold girls soccer team has come, you only need to take a look at their results against Gorge FC.
The Cowichan girls began the season in June with a 20-0 trouncing at the hands of Gorge. They went to work right away at improving.
“The girls were high spirited, but realized they needed to put the work in,” coach Neall Rowlings said. “We started training immediately to grow.”
Cowichan lost 7-1 to Gorge the next time they met, then lost 4-0. Finally, on Dec. 3, they became the first team to beat Gorge, winning 1-0. Until then, Gorge had tied once and won the rest of their games, allowing only two goals — including one against Cowichan.
“The girls improved their tenacity and worked very hard to produce a 1-0 win against the powerhouse team,” Rowlings said.
Ruth Paulson scored the lone goal of the match, burying the rebound off a shot by Taya Brubacher. Ava Roider was a stalwart in net, holding Gorge off the scoresheet.
The Cowichan girls now have three wins, five draws and five losses, and have been rising in the standings. They currently sit fourth in the league.
“Overall, this has been a Cinderella story and is far from over,” Rowlings said. “We are definitely not a result-orientated team, however this was a huge achievement for the girls.”