Locals win inaugural national soccer championship
By Lethbridge Herald on August 20, 2024.
frank tucek photo
Luca Tams and Dasha Tuckova share the Canada SOccer U17 PDP Girls Cup championship trophy together.
.By Justin Seward
Lethbridge Herald
The Calgary Foothills SC U17 girls won the inaugural Canada Soccer U17 PDP Girls Cup national tournament in Edmonton over the weekend.
Foothills won the final 5-4 on penalty kicks over AS Laval.
The team included locals Dasha Tuckova and Luca Tams.
“Definitely a once in a life experience,” said Tams, who hails from Coaldale.
“So I’m very blessed that I got to experience that with my team.”
Tams credited their coach for their success.
“He played a big role for us and he definitely led us to (that) championship for sure,” said Tams.
Tams thought resiliency and perseverance got them through to winning the championship.
“As a team we worked together, none of us worked individually, it’s all as a team, so that’s definitely the main reason,” said Tams.
That was Foothills first time playing teams from across Canada.
“It was definitely a challenge for sure because that was our first time ever playing teams (from) across Canada,” said Tams.
“It was definitely different … they all spoke French and stuff, so we were kind of like getting confused on the field and stuff but it was definitely an experience for sure.”
The Herald reached out to Lethbridge’s Tuckova for comment but she never returned phone calls before deadline.
Foothills defeated Celtix du Haut-Richeleau and Coquitlam Metro Ford FC on route to the final.
Canada Soccer’s new Player-Development Program Championship is meant to strengthen the connection between the standards-based programs all while displaying their quality of play.
18-17
