Blue Bombers emerge from Tillsonburg Gemini tournament with ‘cup’ half full

Ingersoll DCI Blue Bomber Meleena Prikken (right) hits the deck hard during a battle for possession with Sophia Monsere during Gemini Cup action. (Jeff Tribe Photo)

Jeff Tribe, Echo Correspondent

The Ingersoll DCI Blue Bombers girls soccer team’s collective Gemini Cup soccer tournament experience remained half full, even if their opponents’ nets had not been similarly filled up.

“Our team is very uplifting,” said Charlotte Dewit following a 1-0 loss to host Tillsonburg in their third and final Gemini Cup tournament outing, May 1 at the Tillsonburg Minor Soccer Park.

“We’re all just there for each other, no matter what the score,” added Alayna Egan.

On paper, it hadn’t been the most productive of road trips southward down Highway 19.

First, there were the conditions: a chilly, grey, single-digit temperature day with the occasional flake of snow, about what Blue Bombers veterans have come to expect for the Gemini Cup.

“The weather is never happy,” said Dewit.

“It always varies,” added Alyssa Power.

And then there was the competitive, at times physical play, IDCI’s Meleena Prikken among those taking a shared tumble to the soccer park turf.

“It’s pretty hard,” said the Bombers defender, who continuously got back up again to continue competing just as hard as the ground she landed on.

Beyond that, there were three consecutive losses, an official 1-0 opener to St. Thomas Parkside on penalty kicks and back-to-back 1-0 shutouts to Woodstock CI and the Gemini.

However, as Olivia Paterson pointed out, Ingersoll had lost 5-1 to WCI in regular Thames Valley Regional Athletics season play, and additionally, 4-1 to Parkside.

“We definitely played a lot better than the regular season.”

Spirits remained high as the referee’s final whistle blew, the Bombers battling to the end of what Paterson summed up as a positive experience.

“We always have fun here.”

The Blue Bombers have had a challenging season thus far admitted coach Maggie Carter, in terms of wins and losses. However, also putting that in perspective, it has been their first back in the TVRA Tier I division since the girls soccer program re-started, post COVID.

“The girls have consistently demonstrated what it means to be great leaders and teammates,” credited Carter. “They always praise each other up and ensure they hit the pitch with a positive attitude.

“I am proud of their effort and demeanour this season.”

A short TVRA Southeast girls regular season was scheduled to resume on May 4 and conclude the following Monday. Tier I quarterfinals involving Woodstock CI and IDCI are set for May 12; semis on Thursday, May 14; and the final on May 19. Tier II semi-finals involving Woodstock College Avenue, Huron Park, St. Mary’s and Glendale are scheduled for Wednesday, May 13. The respective finals will be played on May 19.

On the boys' side, WCI, which lost in the Gemini Cup A final to London CCH on penalty kicks, stood atop the TVRA Southeast standings as of May 3, the Red Devils 3-0 record two points up on Woodstock St. Mary’s 2-0-1 and three on the IDCI Blue Bombers at 2-1-0. Lord Dorchester leads a four-team Tier II pool also featuring Huron Park in second, Tillsonburg and College Avenue.

The boys' soccer playoffs follow a similar format to their female counterparts.