There’s bad news for the rest of the Foothills Athletic Council. The two-time defending senior girls soccer champion Holy Trinity Academy Knights could be even better in 2018. “The atmosphere in the squad last year was excellent and we became a tight group,” said Knights head coach Peter Mundy. “If we have the same coherence and team bonding this year I will be a happy coach. “We had some great Grade 12s graduating this year, but the core of the remaining team plus the new additions is an exciting prospect. Overall I would confidently say that the Knights squad is technically stronger than last year.” That’s quite a statement. HTA allowed just three goals against while posting a perfect 7-0 record in league play last season. They them earned silver at the South Central Zone championship. The team managed the league and zone success despite being bit pretty significantly by the injury bug. Key midfielder Lucy Mundy missed most of the season with Abbie Wade, Emma Smith and Emily Vervoort sidelined for the zone tournament. HTA’s roster is heavy on Grade 11s, 10 of them, along with four Grade 12 and one Grade 10 that came out of a well-attended team tryout. A number of rookies last season made immediate impacts, the likes of strikers Brielle Masse and Tristan Tate, for the Knights and the group of 2002 born athletes make up the core of the squad. “Our young Grade 10 front line from last season were prolific and they are a year older now,” the coach added. “We had two influential players injured in the first couple of weeks last season and they are both fully fit and in Grade 12 this year. “There are also some new and very talented players coming in, so we should be a team playing exciting, attacking and hopefully good-to-watch soccer.” The Knights have captured four of the past seven high school soccer titles. Foothills Composite last won the title in 2011, Canmore most recently had a two-year run at the top of the FAC in 2014-15 and should again be a tough out on the pitch. The Knights opened the season in Canmore on Sept. 18 in what is the only regular season meeting between the teams. Foothills hosts the Highwood Mustangs at the refurbished Falcons field on Sept. 18. The Falcons host the Knights on Sept. 25 at 4:30 p.m. “We travel to Canmore this year, so we will not have the same home advantage as the last campaign,” Mundy said. “That said, our ambition is to win the banner again.” The Knights are also host of the South Central Zone championship, held Oct. 12-13 at Riverside Park.
