Soccer is not a winter sport > Winter weather is not meant for soccer Katie Czenczek Staff Writer ike many Canadian kids growing up, I played the gateway sport: Soccer, the starter sport for many kids who were forced to play every Monday, Wednesday, and Sunday. Maybe it’s so popular because it’s the cheapest sport to play. It doesn’t require a lot of equipment to get out and kick a ball into a net. Or, it could be that it’s easier to pick up when youre still figuring out how to move your limbs in a purposeful fashion because you only really need to focus on your legs. Having to focus on running while throwing a ball? Not happening. Whatever the reason be, I was outside on a frozen November morning weekly up until Grade 10. I remember how I used to dread those cold, icy mornings and nights. Because the grass field turned into an ice rink, you'd have to be careful not to launch the ball too far or fall straight on your butt while going for a tackle. I’d always come home with ice burns on my thighs and stomach because | was the kid that got a little too eager trying to take the ball away from my opponent. This is the problem | have with the soccer season here in Vancouver. I can’t for the life of me figure out how or why we play our soccer season during the most miserable months of the year. Before this becomes a rant where I just seem like a wimp, hear me out. Traditionally—though I’m not entirely sure how kids play soccer today—I would be running out on the field starting the last week of August until around March, depending on how well my team did in playoffs. Rather than having us play when field conditions would be significantly better, we played through rain, hail, snow, and even a thunderstorm on one memorable occasion. If we were the unlucky team who played on the grass fields, we would be up to our necks in mud. Though I loved the sport itself, all I’m asking is that a slight shift in when the season is played. Why not run it from January to June, with playoffs starting in July? Our mild summers are a lot easier to deal with. After all, there is a reason why soccer is played during the Summer Olympics rather than the Winter Olympics. Pea 7 i ahaa oh y ' SET EAT T day, & oe Pigg ata Rn cli 4 se WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL MEN'S VOLLEYBALL INSTITUTION CONF PTS INSTITUTION CONF PTS DOUGLAS 971 18 CAPILANO 9-1 18 VIU 771 14 VIU 6-2 12 UFV 53 10 CAMOSUN 5-3 10 COTR 4-4 8 DOUGLAS 5-5 10 CAPILANO 4-6 8 UFV 3-5 6 CBC 1-7 2 CBC 1-7 2 CAMOSUN 0-8 0 COTR 1-7 2 A year 1n review > Douglas College men’s soccer in 2017 Davie Wong Sports Editor Ts say that the men’s soccer team has shattered all expectations would be an understatement. Headed into the 2017 season, the men were slated to struggle in the PACWEST... and they did. The men finished third in the PACWEST with a record of 5-5-2, nearly .500. Nothing astounding. However, the team had a fighting spirit that was nearly impossible to match. The squad didn’t draw any attention for fine play but swept the league, awards-wise. Tomi Fagopngbe took home the PACWEST Rookie of the Year award, making it the second year ina rowa Royals player has taken home the award. Nawaf Binsaleh, Quinn Dawson, and Tetsuya Yoshinaga won All-Star awards for their contributions to the regular season. A wonderful PACWEST Championships performance saw the Royals lifting the trophy despite being underdogs. They took that drive and fighting spirit to the CCAA National Championships, and were narrowly defeated at the gold medal game. They took home silver, and all of this while being major underdogs. How did they do this? Well, a little of bit luck goes a long way. The Royals pulled off something that is so rarely seen. They peaked at the right moment. When the Royals needed to win, they were playing some of their best soccer. Sure, their season would have ended if they lost to the Capilano Blues in the PACWEST semi-finals, but it didn’t because they were playing fantastic football. Now all that is left for them is the follow-up. Success was never on the plate this year, but delivered to them on the backs of talented fifth-year international players. Essentially loans. They won't be here next year, and it’s up to head coaches Robby and Paul to figure out what next year looks like. They'll be hard pressed to find talent though. With Ryo Mizuno and Tetsuya Yoshinaga finishing their careers, it’s likely they'll look to the international markets once again. In the backfield, if the team can lockdown a couple of players, they’ll be set. However, the midfield and up front are more questionable. Quinn Dawson has had another excellent year. It'll be no surprise if his services have attracted the interest of bigger teams. He will bea key player for the team to ensure returns next year. Race Williams may have had a rocky sophomore year, but is still an excellent technical player and has taken big steps for the Royals’ offence this year. Rumour Photo via CCAAsportACSC Flickr has it that Williams is being looked into by bigger schools. While losing him will be a blow for the Royals, they have the manpower to fill in his spot, but to say that they can replace him would be purely false. Locking down Williams should be a priority, if the rumours are true. No matter how you look at it, next year will be very different for the Royals. But they can be happy with this year, and celebrate their two medals. After all, winning anything is a huge accomplishment.