After a string of near misses in recent years, the Argyle boys senior soccer squad finally secured the provincial trophy – for the first time in 36 years.
On Saturday, the Pipers took the AAA banner after defeating Burnaby North 1-0.
In the regular season, the team performed well, but a number of changes were made to put players in their best positions and handle a number of injuries that took bodies off the field, said Argyle head coach Darren Rath.
In the Vancouver Sea to Sky zone championships, the Pipers fell 1-3 to Kitsilano in the semi-finals, but came back to beat Vancouver College 2-1 to qualify for provincials.
In the weeks that followed, injured players who had been out were able to rejoin the team, and the entire roster was available for the provincial tourney, Rath said.
The Pipers were dominant on the provincial stage, giving up only one goal in the entire tournament.
“They were extremely difficult to break down, a unified defensive team,” Rath said.
After winning their pool, Argyle faced Kitsilano again in the semi-finals. But this time, the Pipers beat Kits 2-1 to advance.
In the final against Burnaby North, the Pipers scored in the 10th minute of the match, when Christian Young buried a corner kick delivered by Righ Walker.
The second half was a bit more scrappy, Rath said, but Argyle closed out the match well by keeping the pressure on. There was a disallowed goal by team captain Elliot Lupton. The referees said the ball hit his hand before he tapped it in the net.
Team had four silver medals over last decade
But they had done enough. Argyle secured the AAA boys soccer title for the first time since 1988.
Rafael Longo was named Tournament MVP. Rath said Longo anchored the Argyle defence, winning every defensive header and tackle.
Baiden Lee won the Golden Glove award as the top goalkeeper at provincials, and Lupton was selected to the Commissioner’s 16, a tournament all-star.
While there were standout performances, Rath emphasized the outstanding effort of the entire team.
“They had the determination and the drive, the commitment, for the entire tournament,” he said.
Over the past decade, Argyle had many near misses, with provincial silvers in 2015, 2016, 2021 and 2022.
“There were some feelings within the group, being part of previous silver medal teams,” Rath said. “Some had older brothers on the team who received silver medals.”
This year, they were able to turn that hunger into victory.
“It’s wonderful,” Rath said. “I’m over the moon, so proud of the players on the team.”
“They will have this memory locked in for the rest of their life,” he said. “Every single one of them earned it. It’s so well-deserved.”
Rath extended his thanks to staff at the school and parents, as well as other supporters from the community at large including local businesses, which all contributed to the team’s success.
