Strikers weekly recap: U18 Boys settle for a draw, U15 and U16 Girls compete in Georgetown, U16 Boys continue to win

Stratford fullback Kieran Johnson battles for possession with midfielder Owen Blain in support during first half action against Kitchener TFC U17 at Cowan Field on July 20.

By: Michael Willoughby

The Stratford U18 Boys Strikers challenged the Southwest District Soccer League’s top team, Kitchener U17 TFC, pushing them to the brink but ultimately unable to maintain their late lead, ending in a 2-2 draw at Cowan Field on July 20.

Stratford took the lead with a mid-first-half scorcher of a shot from Jelle Zeilstra and extended it early in the second half with a goal from Pierce MacDonald. However, the visitors mounted a late rally, scoring twice in under 10 minutes, which prevented the Strikers from earning all three points and left them with only one.

U18 Strikers head coach Steve Ollson described the team’s performance as their best of the year, though he expressed disappointment over the two late goals that resulted in a tie. He highlighted the need to keep improving, prevent losses, and focus on preparations for the final tournament in mid-August.

“The boys played really well today. Probably thought it was their best game of the year, and we just kind of fell apart at the end there to give them two late goals for the tie. But overall, it was a good 43 minutes,” Ollson said.

“We're just going to keep moving forward and keep staying off the losses and try to keep winning games and get ready for our final tournament of the year in mid-August.”

Stratford improved their record to 6-4-1 with 22 points, placing third, 12 points behind the division leaders. The U18 Strikers’ next match is against Rockwood FC on July 22. The match result will be featured in next week’s edition of the Times.

The U15 and U16 Stratford Strikers Girls competed at the Eustace Collins Memorial Soccer Tournament in Georgetown over the weekend. Originally scheduled as a weekend-long event, the U16 Strikers’ matches of the tournament were merged into a single day after the heavy smog from the Northern Ontario Wildfires forced the detour.

To accommodate the changes, the tournament officials altered the full match length from 80 to 40 minutes, with two 20-minute halves.

Just as affected by the weather and schedule change, Stratford U15 now played in a knockout-style format, with their first-round match against North Mississauga SC (NMSC) on July 18 at the Gellert Community Centre. The Strikers were unable to advance in the tournament, losing 3-0 to NMSC.

Next up for the U15 squad is returning to SWDSL regular-season play as they host Kitchener TFC U14/15 at Stratford’s SERC Tennis Field on July 22, followed by Storm FC on July 27 at VFG Field at Festival Hydro Park in Stratford.

The U16 Strikers began their tournament run in a winning form, blanking Waterloo United 3-0 in their first match on July 19 at Trafalgar Sports Park. Stratford settled for a scoreless draw with Soo City United, but were ousted from the tournament with a 1-0 defeat against the Puslinch Predators, their first defeat in regulation in 2026. Soo City defeated Puslinch 5-0 in the tournament final.

Next up for the U16 Strikers is against Oriental SC at Campo Do Oriental in Cambridge on July 21 (after press time) in SWDSL regular-season action, and July 24 versus Waterloo United in their first-round matchup at the U16 Girls Nothers Youth Cup.

U16 Strikers Boys played their lone match of the week on July 14 against Owen Sound United at Kiwanis Park in Owen Sound. Stratford won their fourth straight match as they edged Owen Sound 3-2 courtesy of goals from Jack De Graaf, Miles Hallman and Logan Wilson.

Stratford improved their record to 5-1-3 with 16 points in sixth position in the SWDSL U16 League Standings. Their next match is scheduled for July 21 against Huron-Perth United and they return to Owen Sound for their second-round matchup of the U16 Boys Nothers Youth Cup against Owen Sound United on July 24.