More than 30 U11 to U19 soccer teams from Athabasca to Cold Lake helped to represent the Lakeland area over the weekend, playing in the annual Camrose Night Classic. The annual event that has been part of the provincial minor soccer schedule for decades, drew players from across the province.
For three days ... and two nights, the tournament saw 180 games played from sun up to sundown — and beyond, with teams playing under the floodlights into the early hours of the morning.
The long days, late nights and early mornings didn't wear down several of the Lakeland squads, as the region came home with a number of podium-finish medals.
The U-17 Bonnyville Girls team went undefeated in their four games to earn a tournament gold medal. The girls not only shut out all of their opponents, they also scored a perfect shutout on the weekend, allowing no goals in any of their games. Lakeland teams finished one-two in the U17 division, with the St. Paul Strikers finishing coming home with Night Classic silver medals. Also coming home with silver medals were the U-17 Lakeland boys team, finishing the games with a 3-1 record and scoring an impressive 15 goals while only giving up two. A tough boys team from Edson came away with the gold medals, beating the Lakeland squad 2-1 in their matchup and winning the pool by just one point.
The U15 Bonnyville-Lac La Biche team earned their gold medal in a tightly contested division that saw eight of the 20 games played over the weekend result in draws. The girls finished with a gold-worthy record of two wins and two ties. The offense over the weekend, recording 14 goals while their defence only gave up two, helped them beat the Sherwood Park by one point overall for the top spot.
Local girls teams continued their gold-medal performances with the U13 Cold Lake squad finishing first in their division, scoring 14 goals in their four-straight wins over teams from Whitecourt, St. Paul, Camrose and Westaskiwin. The Cold Lake team only saw two goals scored on them in their four games.
Both of the Bonnyville U11 girls teams came home with the gold. Each team finished at the top of their divisions, beating teams from Stettler, Camrose, Vermilion and Bentley.
The Bonnyville-Lac La Biche U13 girls earned their bronze finish with a 2-2 record on the weekend.
Lakeland United win Gold
On the boys' side the Lakeland United U19 team were undefeated through their four games, tallying an impressive 15 goals against teams from Rocky Mountain House, Athabasca, Vermilion and Whitecourt. Athabasca earned the sliver medal in the boys U19 division. The U19 boys team is made up of players from across the Lakeland. Several members of the team are expected to join the Portage College Voyageurs men's team in the Alberta Colleges Athletics Conference in the next season.
The next soccer tournament for Lakeland area players is the Mini Wetlands Tournament in Bonnyville on June 10. The annual tourney is for U7 to U11 teams. The Lakeland Cup event goes a week later, played in St. Paul from June 16-18. The tournament is for U13 to U19 teams. The following weekend the Lakeland Cup continues with games in Vermilion for U15 and U17 teams.
League play in the Lakeland District Soccer Association is winding down for the outdoor season with final games taking place over the next week.