Stratford Strikers Weekly Recap: Season’s final stretch begins

By: Michael Willoughby

On Aug. 4, the Stratford U16 Boys Strikers looked to get back on the winning track in their first home match since June 30 as they hosted Oriental SC at Cowan Field, losing 2-1. Dominic McGurgin scored the lone goal for Stratford.

Combined from their 6-0 road loss on July 28 against Kitchener TFC, the Strikers are in sixth place in the Southwest District Soccer League (SWDSL) 16U Boys Division with a 6-1-5 record and 19 points. They hosted the league’s top-ranked Waterloo United at Stratford VFG Field on Aug. 11 (after press time).

The U16 Girls Strikers continued their SWDSL undefeated run last week with a 5-0 win over Cambridge United at Cowan Field on Aug. 4, followed by a 1-0 road win over second-place Oriental SC at Campo Do Oriental in Cambridge on Aug. 6.

Stratford’s Myra Wood and Mya Meyer led the team in scoring during the two-win week, with Avery Bruinsma and Niamh Appel also scoring for the Strikers.

With the two wins, the top-ranked Strikers increased their lead to six points over Oriental SC and seven clear of third-place Puslinch Predators in the SWDSL U16 Girls Division standings with four league matches left. Next up for the Strikers was a road match against Waterloo United on Aug. 11.

Stratford U15 Girls Strikers picked up four out of six points last week. Against Kitchener TFC U15 at RBJ Schlegel Field on Aug. 5, the Strikers settled for a 1-1 draw, with Mya Groenstege scoring the lone goal for Stratford.

Back on home pitch at Cowan Field on Aug.10, Peyton Ward, Reese Campbell and Payton Herman each scored a hat trick to lead the Strikers to a convincing 10-2 win over FFTW Academy. Elena Hogger also scored for the Strikers.

The four points give Stratford a five-point lead over the Guelph Jr. Gryphons with 34 points in the SWDSL U15 Girls Division with four league games remaining. With a game in hand, first-place Stratford could potentially clinch the division title with their next game against Guelph on Aug. 17 at VFG Field.

Stratford U18 Boys Strikers continued their unbeaten run with two solid wins against HEADS United at Guelph Jr. Gryphons on home turf last week.

At VFG Field on Aug. 5, Stratford defeated HEADS United 7-2 courtesy of a brace from Greyson Roth and other goals from Rogan Catalan, Jack Haines, Pierce MacDonald, Caden Ollson and Austin McGurgin.

On Aug. 10, Stratford soared past the Gryphons 11-0 at Cowan Field. McGurgin and Piers Murray led the Strikers with a brace each, while Owen Blain, Catalan, Kieren Johnson, MacDonald, Roth and William Pepper scored for Stratford in the rout.

Stratford improved their record to 8-4-1 with 28 points and are in third position with only two league games left in the SWDSL U18 Boys season. The Strikers wrapped up their 2026 season at home against Huron Perth United on Aug. 12 at Cowan Field (after press time) and at Columbia Icefields in Waterloo against GPF Eagles on Aug. 17.

The full results will be posted in next week’s edition of the Stratford Times.