Sonics duo at U18 nationals
Published Tuesday October 7th, 2008
SUSSEX - Scheduling time away from the pitch is a bit of a challenge these days for two talented members of the Sussex Sonics senior girls AAA soccer team.
But senior striker Megan Spicer and Grade 11 midfielder Lynn Symington would not have it any other way.
In fact, the more soccer, the better for the duo, who are also in the mix for the provincial girls team that will play next summer at the Canada Games in Prince Edward Island.
In addition to their regular duty for the 4-2-0 Sonics, the pair will also travel to Vaughan, Ont., this week for the Canadian under-18 girls soccer championship with a Fundy United Vitos side that went 15-0 in New Brunswick play this year.
The congested schedule is a reward for their abilities and interest in the sport.
For example, Spicer, 17, has not stopped her scoring ways this season, as she has 13 regular-season goals and five more in exhibition action to give her a whopping 137 over her four-year career, quite a figure considering the short nature of the high school soccer campaign.
"It is kind of surprising that I was able to get that many," said Spicer, who attributed her success to speed and quick strikes.
"I really don't have a secret or special technique. I run fast. I don't have moves, I am too scared to make moves. It is mainly breakaways."
Spicer, described as a pure goal scorer and an offensive machine, averaged more than 35 goals a year in Grade 9 and Grade 10 and followed with 42 tallies a year ago.
It's a major part of the Sonics' attack.
"I don't think I have seen anyone dominate from Grade 9 on like she has," said Sussex coach Ronald Leger, who says university teams are interested in her skills.
Symington, 16, leaves her Sussex home every morning at 6:45 p.m. for Moncton, where she participates in the Sport-Etude program at the Universite de Moncton. It's basically a full immersion in soccer that Symington hopes will boost her skill development enough to land a berth in a university program two falls from now.
Her regiment will continue the entire school year with daily travel to Moncton. When she is finished each day, she drives back to Sussex for regular school work in the afternoon and then more soccer with the Sonics after the final bell. And to top it off are the preparations for the U18 nationals.
She makes up for the time away in the morning with a combination of online, correspondence, independent studies and/or extra work at noon. Last year, she made up two classes per semester but is adding one course per semester this year. She does plan to graduate on time in 2010.
"High school soccer fits in pretty easily because the Moncton stuff is only in the morning and the (Fundy) stuff is usually in the evenings or weekends," she said.
The Sonics split their first four games, but were 2-0 last week and finish the regular season with games against Hampton and Rothesay this week.
"We are definitely improving as the season goes on," Symington said, a defender for teams in Moncton and Fundy but a midfielder for the Sonics.
Spicer, who has played for provincial U16 sides in the past, feels the Sonics have potential and agrees there is progress being made.
"Mr. Leger is really good to help us," said Spicer. "He is not a slack coach. He actually makes us work."
The southern conference playoffs, which begin Oct. 15, all with an eye on the provincials Oct. 31 and Nov. 1.
Before that, Fundy United opens the nationals Oct. 8 against Oshawa.
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