North Bay girls on championship team

PHOTO:
North Bay's Kelli Chamberlain, 14, Erin Hoover, 15, Stephanie Kirkham, 16, Heather Morrison, 16, Caitlin Pawlett, 15 and Jessica Scarfone, 15 were members of the Carlos Riva Selects Club that won a 16-team tournament in Monterrey, Mexico. Two players from New Liskeard, Melissa Harvey, 16 and Carly McLennan, 15, were also on the team

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Six North Bay teenagers helped the Carlos Rivas Selects girls’ soccer team win a tournament in Mexico.

Kelli Chamberlain, 14, Erin Hoover, 15, Stephanie Kirkham, 16, Heather Morrison, 16, Caitlin Pawlett, 15 and Jessica Scarfone, 15 were members of the Selects Club that won the 16-team tournament in Monterrey, Mexico.

The squad was primarily comprised of Greater Toronto Area players who attend the Carlos Rivas Soccer School in Vaughan and players from North Bay. Others have been coached by Rivas at the Gothia Cup tournament in Sweden last year.

Rivas took 24 players to Mexico and entered two teams in the event, which featured players under 18-years-old.

In addition, this year’s squad included two players from New Liskeard, Melissa Harvey, 16 and Carly McLennan, 15 who also play with A&A Kickers during the summer.

The girls played all six games for the squad that ended up winning the tournament and also appeared in three matches for the other club, which advanced to the tourney’s quarterfinal round.

The tourney has been running for 14 years, but this marked the first time a girls’ division had been contested. There were 14 Mexican entrants.

This summer, the girls will compete with Anthony & Associates Kickers Under-17 girls team in the North Bay Soccer League, North Bay Ladies Division. As well, the six players will join the Carlos Riva Selects for a tournament with visiting Mexican teams in Toronto in July.