Tri-S soccer on fire - Selkirk Journal

Selkirk’s defensive play has been superb giving up just 18 goals in 14 games.

Photo by Mark T. Buss


Tri-S soccer on fire
Local side scoring, winning as playoffs loom

By Mark T. Buss
Friday August 25, 2006
Selkirk Journal — Talk about good timing.

With just two games remaining, Tri-S Div. 2 soccer team coach Ken Semperl believes his club is peaking as they head into the playoffs.

After scoring just one goal in their first three games, and limping to a 2-1-2 record to start the season, Selkirk has shot to 8-3-3 and set up a showdown with Penarol S.C (9-3-2) Friday at the Selkirk Rec Complex soccer pitches.

With a win over Penarol – and an expected victory over 1-11 IPAC Ukraine Aug. 31 in Winnipeg – Selkirk would propel themselves into second place in the Gold conference of the Manitoba Major Soccer League standings and second overall in the division.

“We beat Penarol earlier this year but they’re a younger team that likes to move the ball,” Semperl said. “We’ll have our work cut out for us but we’ll have to attack them to be successful.”

Selkirk struggled offensively in the early going but their ability to “attack” the ball has turned the tide.

Semperl said a team philosophy calling for midfielders to pressure the ball carrier has kept the action at the far end of the pitch.

With veteran strikers Ivar Helgason and Bill Anderson joined by Div. 5 call-ups Chris Spicer and Ian Dixon, the front four have been able to find the net with regularity as a result.

In total, Spicer now leads the team in scoring with seven goals in 10 games placing him sixth among leagues leaders. Dixon and Helgason are tied for 12th with five goals each.

“It was tough for me to get into the flow this year because I’m playing against better and more skilled players,” said Spicer, who scored 25 goals to lead Div. 5 strikers in 2005. “We’ve become more comfortable with each other up front and it’s shown better results.”

When opponents have been able to cross midfield, Selkirk’s defence has been brilliant. Giving up just 18 goals in 14 games, the experienced defensive core of Sean Leggit, Paul Gadient and Brad Wilson have been able to fend off attackers.

With keeper Kyle Swystun leaving mid-season for work up north, Div 5 netminder Eric Rensfelt has been called into duty on several occasions. When he is not able to suit up, Semperl has been filling the keeper position by committee.

“We’ve had other members of the team playing net and it has been interesting at times,” Semperl laughed. “Overall they filled in admirably.”

Playoffs begin the first week of September.