The Vanier Spirits won 4A girls soccer provincials last weekend in Yorkton. Their team was congratulated at an assembly at the school yesterday.

With a so-so regular season record, Coach Daniel Atkins said it didn’t look like it was going to be their season in the weeks leading up to regionals.

“But at the start of regionals when we played Luther for the first game, we stepped it up and we brought intensity and we brought a different level of play that we hadn’t done previous,” Atkins said.

Vanier had only one senior this year, with Meisie Chamberlain the only grade 12.

“Last year we did lose a couple seniors, and if affected our team hugely because they were in every position and we needed them,” she said. “Until the start of the season, we had a lot of doubt in ourselves and (we weren’t) taking practices very seriously. So I had to take that kind of leadership role and say we kind of need to do something here.”

Losing to Central throughout the regular season put a damper on the team, she said. But regionals was a real turnaround.

“(Then) in provincials, we brought it all out there,” Chamberlain said.

They won 4-1 over Se Se Wa Hum in the final, with Chamberlain getting one of the goals.

While Chamberlain won’t be there next season, it’s hoped there will be a continuation of the culture brought to the team.

“I think I’ve put the girls in a mindset that you have to be focused and ready for everything that comes to you,” she said.

Central's boys meanwhile, hosted 4A provincials and got silver after a 2-1 loss to Regina Luther in the final.

Central Head coach Jason Brown talked about the team's mood after the final.

“I feel really bad for them because they got a little bit away from the game plan (Saturday),” Brown said. “But they played so well. They were much better today than they were at the start of the season.”

Brown said Regina's goal at the end of the first half was like a punch in the gut.

“That was pretty hard but then the boys battled back and they just couldn’t pull it out.”