Selkirk soccer club scoring, winning games in bunches-

Making moves

Selkirk soccer club scoring, winning games in bunches
By Mark T. BussFriday July 29, 2005


A Raggazzi defender fails to stop the progress of Selkirk’s Paul Gadient.

Photo by Mark T. Buss

Selkirk Journal — The Tri-S Men’s Div. 2 soccer team is the hottest thing in the Manitoba Major Soccer League.The Selkirk club has found both their scoring touch and the win column in recent weeks as they’ve strung together a six-game winning streak that has elevated the team into second place with a 7-3-1 record.“We’ve started scoring now and that has been the main factor,” said Selkirk coach Ken Semperl. “Where shots used to go off the post or wide, they’re starting to go in.”Leading the way for Selkirk is Jon Coutts who currently sits second in division scoring with six goals in nine games. In Selkirk’s home game against F.C. Ragazzi Tuesday night, Selkirk dominated in a 2-0 win. Coutts scored both goals in the first half.In a similar 2-0 win over Pescara a week earlier, Coutts scored a brilliant goal from 20 yards out as he played the ball with his back to the keeper before turning and shooting the ball off the post and in.Coutts is not alone however as three other Selkirk players join the speedy striker in the leagues top 25 scorers. Kelly Kowalchuk and Rob Markevich are currently tied for 13th spot with three goals each while Corey Hargreaves sits in 24th with two goals.“Jon has found his scoring touch and we knew he always had it,” Semperl said. “And the other guys on the team are certainly making their contributions.”While Selkirk has been able to find the back of the net, their defensive play has kept the ball out of their own goal. The six wins have been accentuated by five shutouts with keeper Kyle Swystun giving up just one goal in the process, that coming in a 3-1 win over IPAC Ukraine July 24.“We’ve only given up 12 goals in 11 games so our defence has been solid,” Semperl said. “The guys really understand that defence starts at the forward position by not allowing the other teams any easy passes and keeping the pressure in their end.”Semperl said Selkirk’s recent success can also be contributed to their new found ability to leave the game on the field and not get caught up in the trash talk and questionable conduct of others.The coach said that recently acquired skill will come into play Friday when they take on Spitfire F.C. in Transcona. Spitfire defeated Selkirk 4-1 earlier in the season and Semperl said the loss was a classic case of his team not able to keep their heads in the game.“We didn’t know how to walk away from a confrontation and that is an ingredient you need to play this game at a high level,” Semperl said. “There are going to be bad calls but if you focus on that, you’re not going to be able to play the game. You have to be able to play on.”Selkirk’s next home game will be Aug. 5 when they host the Chilean Selects at 7 p.m