U16 Girls fall in classic heartbreaker

The 2026 Graham Bunting Classic Silver Medalists. Team Roster - Vittoria Brander, Linley Porter, Mya Meyer, Myra Wood, Olivia Horenberg, Claire Donnelly, Pippa Nyehuis, Niamh Appel, Haley Hummell, Emerie Smith, Edyn Grimwood, Avery Bruinsma, Arabelle Garland, Rosie Sauder, Leighton Nickel, Everly Durst, Tasha Cooley. Head Coach - Ashley Vito, Assistant Coach - Nicolle Meyer.

The U16 Stratford Strikers were looking to finally reach the top of the mountain in this year’s rendition of the Graham Bunting Classic during the weekend of June 6 to 7.

Head coach Ashley Vito says the team is hungry to win the tournament this year after falling short in the gold medal game as the then-U14 team.

“Well, we got silver last year, so the goal for this tournament is gold this year. But ultimately, my goal is for us to improve in every game. I tell them this every time we're in a tournament, 25 per cent every game,” Vito said.

“So, if we're starting at 100, I want us to be at 125 the next time, and I just want us to keep it hot and half-fast the whole game, because 50 minutes is draining even in this heat.”

Placed in Pool B with the Sarnia Spirit, Oriental SC and Whitby WFC, the Strikers braved the warm weather and went undefeated with a 3-0 record, winning all three games 1-0. Vittoria Brander recorded all three shutouts in goal for the Strikers.

On June 7, the Strikers went to St. Marys for their semi-final match with Pool A runner-up St. Thomas Reds.

After a scoreless game through regular and extra time, Niamh Appel scored the match-clinching goal on penalty kicks to send the Strikers to the tournament final.

The U16 Girls final featured the top two teams in the age group, with the LaSalle Stompers and the Strikers battling for the championship at GRIT Engineering Field at Stratford’s Festival Hydro Community Park.

For the second straight match, the Strikers went to penalty kicks after full and extra time resulted in a scoreless draw.

Unfortunately for the Strikers, this penalty kick session delivered a cruel fate as the final kick of the penalty shootout struck the lower part of the crossbar and post before crossing the goal line, resulting in a 3-1 loss in the extra session.

After the match, Vito expresses immense pride in her team, highlighting their grace, class and exceptional teamwork at the tournament.

“I've never been more proud of this team. They walked through this tournament with grace, being classy, working together and honestly, I'm gonna wrap this up as a tie, as opposed to a loss,” Vito said.

“They haven't lost their shutout streak. They are working together so well. I couldn't be prouder. That's what I've been telling them all day. Shut out, really, or a shootout at the end of the game truly doesn't determine the best team. They're 90 per cent possession. I'm very proud of them.”

Despite the loss, the Strikers did not concede any goals during regulation in the tournament. Since the first three matches of the SDSL regular season, Stratford has remained unbeaten in terms of regulation goals in their last seven matches, with goalkeeper Vittoria Brander, who has allowed only four goals in the regular season, leading the league.

Stratford returns to regular-season play on June 11, after press time, as they host Oriental SC at Cowan Field in Festival Hydro Community Park.

Vito states that the team is eager to continue their tournament momentum and aim for a successful season in the Southwest District Soccer League. The Strikers are currently in second place with two wins, two draws and no losses.

“I was saying to them that if we can move forward the way that we played in the semifinal game, and even I'd say about 80 per cent of this game, then we have the league. I think we have the league in the bag. I'm really proud of them moving forward. We're going to work on moving the ball around and continuing all the good work that we've done this weekend,” Vito said.