The Smithers Secondary School girls soccer team wrapped up their Provincial Championship journey in Burnaby with resilience, heart, and a hard-fought win.
After dropping their first four games despite giving it their all in each match, the Gryphons refused to leave the tournament without showing what they were made of. That determination came through in their final game against Vernon, in which they pulled together as a team and earned a well-deserved 1-0 victory.
Game Captain Ashlee Imhof led by example, scoring the game’s lone goal on a perfectly placed free kick. Between the posts, goalkeeper Evangilina Raven delivered a composed and confident performance, recording a shutout to help secure the win.
Nicole Bateman was selected as the Smithers representative for the Super 16 — an honour given to one standout player from each of the teams at the tournament, recognizing skill, effort, and impact on the field.
In addition to individual honours, the Gryphons were awarded the Fair Play Award, a testament to the team’s sportsmanship, respect, and integrity on and off the field.
The tournament also marked a bittersweet farewell to four graduating seniors: Ashlee Imhof, Sam Love, Kolbie Doodson, and Evangilina Raven — all of whom have been incredible mentors and role models for the younger players.
