Kimberley Massey/Rocky View Publishing

The Cochrane Cobras lift the Rock View Sports Association's (RVSA) boys soccer championship trophy for the second year in a row. The Cobras defeated the George McDougall Mustangs 3-2 in extra time to win back-to-back gold medals at Monklands Park in Airdrie, May 24. In the bronze medal game, the Chestermere Lakers defeated the Bert Church Chargers 2-1. For full stories on both games, see pages 22 and 24.

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Cobras claim second straight RVSA gold

Same teams, same score, same prize on the line.

The Cochrane Cobras defeated the George McDougall Mustangs 3-2 in extra time to win the Rocky View Sports Association (RVSA) boys’ soccer gold medal, May 24.

It’s the second consecutive title for the Cobras and a flashback to 2011. The team defeated the Mustangs 3-2 last year in penalty kicks to win gold.

“The last time we played them it was close, too,” said Cobras Head Coach Carolyn McLeod. “They are a strong team and we knew we were going to have some trouble with them because they’ve got speed up front and strength in the back. We knew it was going to a tough battle.”

This year, Matt Hood scored first for the Cobras on a free kick, which deflected in off Mustangs’ keeper Kyle Madsen. The Cobras held onto the one-goal lead until midway through the second half. Chris Sanchez tied the game for George Mac and Oliver Proic scored shortly after to give the team a 2-1 lead. Just as it looked like the Mustangs’ comeback would stand and give them the gold medal, Cobras’ co-captain Eric Patterson scored off a corner kick to tie the game with 30 seconds left.

Shortly after George McDougall’s Matt Wagner narrowly missed on a shot that sailed just over the net, Nash Hayward scored the game winner for the Cobras in the second half of overtime.

According to McLeod, scoring first was one of the Cobras’ priorities.

“That’s what we said in the beginning,” she said. “That’s what we did to Bert Church (last game). We scored on them right away and it really took the wind out of their sails. You’d be surprised how much it knocks a team down and it did. We could see that George Mac was deflating.”

After losing their lead to the two back-to-back Mustang goals, the momentum began to shift away from the Cobras. For McLeod, the challenge was turning the team’s focus back to the game plan and keeping their frustration at bay.

The team also got a lesson in the old adage “play until the whistle blows” with the last-minute goal that tied the game. Patterson summed up the game with a single adjective.

“It was scary,” he said.

“We started off well, but I really thought they had us in the second half. (The tying goal) was a momentum changer and it gave us confidence when we weren’t playing so well, so it was good.”

For Patterson, along with many of his teammates, the gold medal game was the last of their high school career, making the win more special. It was another aspect of the game that the team was focusing on, according to McLeod.

“It was huge for them,” she said. “We (told them) to leave it all out there and play their hearts out, and they did. George Mac is a really hard team and very skilled, so I think (the boys) deserved the win.”

For the Mustangs, it was another heartbreaking loss to their biggest rival thanks to a shaky start and Patterson’s last minute goal. However, the team is looking ahead to playing in the South Central Zone tournament, which will be held in Canmore, June 8.

“I couldn’t be more proud of the guys,” said Mustangs Head Coach Brian DeGuiseppe.

“They worked really hard, especially when they dominated in the second half. It was a tough one, but they played really well.”