PCSL

Xtreme Ground Eagles in Season Opener
Tri-Cities blank North Shore with solid home field performance

"We really tried to prepare better this year. We got the team together more often. It's difficult with the winter leagues dragging on and the spring college season, but the girls came out as often as they could, and when they were there they worked their tails off. It's always good to get off on the right foot. North Shore is a good squad, so it was a well earned three points."

The Xtreme get a week off before their next game, Tuesday, May 20, 2008, when they host the always tough Fraser Valley Action at Charles Best. Next Tuesday's game kicks off at 8:00pm.

THROW INS

Fifteen year old Kaila Henly (Coquitlam) made her PCSL Premier debut in the final minutes of the match. The striker, who plays her youth soccer with the Coquitlam Metro-Ford Silence, scored two goals for the Xtreme Reserves in their weekend victory over Semiahmoo. "Kaila is a quality striker with lots of confidence," said Fletcher. "She earned this opportunity with her play on the weekend. That's the kind of thing we're trying to establish in our club. We want our young players to know that first team play is a very real opportunity and we're not just paying them lip service. Kaila only got a handful of minutes tonight, but she made the most of them with a few good touches and one quality chance on goal."

The Xtreme Reserves play their second game of the young season Wednesday night (May 14) at Percy Perry Stadium. The opponent will be expansion club Richmond SC. The match is scheduled to kickoff at 7:30pm.

Tuesday May 13, 2008 - The Tri-Cities Xtreme took their first step towards their goal of winning the Pacific Coast Soccer League Premier Division title on a soggy Monday evening at Charles Best Field. But to do that, the Xtreme had to avoid a similar stumble to what they experienced last season when they opened the season with a 3-1 loss to North Shore. This season there would be no such stumble. Rather the Xtreme leaped into the season with a definitive 2-0 victory over that same North Shore squad, in game where the Xtreme were likely worthy of a bigger margin of victory.

The Xtreme demonstrated good possession and quick pace in their play, carrying much of the action to begin the first half. However, despite repeated forays into the North Shore third of the park, the Xtreme couldn't turn chances into goals, as North Shore defended well, particularly in and around their own penalty area. Tri-Cities persistence was finally rewarded in the 41st minute when newly acquired defender Jackie Gant (Burnaby) neatly converted a cross field pass from striker Phebe Trotman (Coquitlam).

With a 1-0 halftime lead in their pocket, the Xtreme seemed to approached the second half with more confidence. Yet, North Shore were equal to the task, with solid defending and a quick counterattack. North Shore had a few chances to draw even, including a free kick from 20 yards, but first year keeper Cassie Newbrook (Coquitlam) was solid in turning away all she faced. The Xtreme would salt things away in the 77th minute, when Rachael Pelat's (Delta) low hard drive from 25 yards out ricocheted twice off defenders before hitting the back of the net.

Head coach Scott Fletcher was very pleased with the effort and the way the team played, "It's a testament to the players and their work ethic through training camp."