Two Trail soccer players travel to the coast this weekend with the Kootenay Regional Soccer Academy to hit the pitch at the Star Fire Showcase Soccer Tournament in Seattle.
“This is the first time the Kootenay WhiteCaps team has attended,” said coach Brett Adams. “We’re not going there with any expectations, but . . . we expect each individual to perform to their own high standards.”
Goalkeeper Paige Gattafoni of Trail will backstop the U17 Girls soccer team, while Brady Stevens will don the cleats as an attacker for the U16 Kootenay team.
Their commitment has been well noted by Adams for their extensive travel to practice in Nelson each week, but the coach is even more impressed with their talent.
“Paige is phenomenally talented as a goalkeeper . . . she is certainly one of the best if not the best in the Kootenays, and were excited to have her on board. And Brady is new to the program, but certainly given it her all and cemented her spot in the Academy.”
The two teams will be up against some stiff competition at the U.S. Thanksgiving weekend tournament, and will kick off the event today with the U16 team playing the West Vancouver Rangers at 6:15 p.m. and the U17 Girls versus the Victoria Highlanders at 8:45 p.m.
The teams include players from the West and East Kootenay region. Since Adams was named head coach in October of 2013 he has seen the Kootenay Soccer Academy grow from about 90 players to 350 current prospects.
The teams will play two games each on Saturday before wrapping up the tournament with games against Seattle United on Sunday.