BRIDGETOWN - A team, a school, and a community are celebrating after the BRCS Senior Boys soccer team’s triumph on Saturday, where they won the NSSAF Division 2 provincial title in a high-tension game against Halifax Grammar School.
The BRCS senior boys joked on the bleachers while they waited for warm-up prior to the noontime final Nov. 4. There was a calm energy among that you wouldn’t think to find in a team about to play the provincial championship.
When warm-up began, however, and the sidelines starting filling up with fans, supporters, and family, the boys made the switch and put their game face on. Their single-minded focus and determination during the pre-game drills showed how badly the Bridgetown boys wanted that banner.
A Familiar First Half
Bridgetown started the first half off on the right foot, slotting their first goal against Halifax shortly after the initial whistle. Adrian Bent (#9) took a corner kick that sent the ball soaring, and Hudson Joudrey (#16) was right there with a headbutt, sending the ball straight into the back of Halifax’s net.
Even with their early lead, the game wasn’t a take-away for Bridgetown. There was an intense push and pull between the two teams, and each side kept the other on their toes, never letting up. For the BRCS boys, quick, relieved hugs on the field between team members were common whenever one of them saved the team from a close call.
The Bridgetown Hawk’s ended their first half on Saturday the same way they ended their first half on Friday, with a 2-0 lead against the opposing team, both goals scored by co-captain Joudrey.
Also similar to Friday, the bleachers were filled with most of the BRCS Senior Girls soccer team. The girls were a strong presence at the game, both in the level of their support, and the volume of it. There to cheer on Bridgetown with the community was Swoops the Hawk, BRCS’ feathered mascot.
A Nail-Biting Second Half
The second half of the game proved to be a surprising one. Kyle Garde (#12) sneaked a third goal by the Halifax goalie, furthering Bridgetown’s lead. Halifax Grammar was called for being offside a number of times, halting many of their advance’s on net.
However, the last 15 minutes of the second half saw two goals against Bridgetown -- one on a penalty shot. These goals made the game a nail-biter, as the crowd dreaded a third goal by Grammar, which would send the boys into overtime.
The Perfect Ending
However, the crowd had no reason to worry, because the senior boys’ skill and love of the game held up, the final whistle was blown, and Bridgetown had its victory.
Absolute joy took over the Bridgetown team and it’s supporters, and emotions were high. Spectators ran forward to congratulate their sons, grandsons, brothers, friends, and boyfriends. With this game, the Senior Boys soccer team have won the first NSSAF Provincial Banner for their new school, Bridgetown Regional Community School, making it not just a success for their team, but for the community as a whole.
“I’ve had a lot of these boys from when they were right little, and they’ve gotten to this point, it’s just the perfect ending for a lot of these Grade 12 students, so I’m just proud of all of them,” said head coach Phil Theriault on the field, after the medals were handed out. Assistant coaches are Andrew Verran and Brent Saunders.
Before their game, defenseman Quinton Havenga (#8) said “This next game’s the last game of probably my career, so I’d like to make it a memorable one.” As tears were shed, hugs were given, and smiles refused to go away on the BRCS soccer field Saturday afternoon, it was obvious that Quinton’s wish for a memorable last game had come true.
Elyse Whitman is a Grade 12 student at Bridgetown Regional Community School and works with the Annapolis County Spectator an Annapolis Valley Register.
