They've got silver nailed down but they're aiming for gold.
The Squamish U13 Gunners boys' soccer team is in first place in the Silver 1 Division in the North Shore League.
"We've been in the top of the league the whole time," said coach Terry Hurlbert. "We're taking on the big city teams. It's a very good thing."
On Feb. 5 the Squamish team took on the Edmonds Whitecaps at 1 p.m. at Brennan Park in a Commonwealth Cup game. It was a long, grueling game - the teams played two 35-minute halves, two extra 10-minute halves and then a shootout. But the game was still tied at 1 apiece, and the teams went into sudden death overtime.
Bryce Hurlbert scored the only goal for the Gunners during regular play. Kellie McRae scored the winning goal during sudden death, giving the Gunners a 2-1 victory.
"We had a hard game that game," Hurlbert said. "It was getting the rust off." The Squamish team hadn't played a game since the Christmas break because of the weather.
The Whitecaps were tough competition as well.
"They had a couple of big strong players that were fairly skillful and it was hard to check them," Hurlbert said.
Goalie Cameron Sweeney kept the Whitecaps from putting the ball in the net.
"He played very well," Hurlbert said. "He's kept us in a lot of games all year. It's fairly nerve wracking for a 12 year old to be diving all over the place."
The Gunners played a Provincial Cup game against Lynn Valley Magic Feb. 6, but the competition wasn't as challenging and the Gunners won 2-1.
"We dominated the game," Hurlbert said. "The only goal they scored on us was on a penalty shot, a very questionable penalty shot.
"They basically weren't in our end very much."
Sunny Sanghera and Brenton Lynn scored for the Gunners, and Patrick McEachran was recognized as the coach's player of the game for his effort running and checking in his midfielder position.
The Gunners have another set of back-to-back games next weekend. On Feb. 19, the Gunners will play in the Commonwealth Cup semifinal at Brennan Park at 11 a.m. and on Feb. 20 they have a semi final Provincial Cup game at 11 a.m. If the Gunners wrap the season at the top of the North Shore League they will go onto face Lower Mainland teams from different zones before heading to the provincials.
Last year they boys finished first in the North Shore, only to be bumped off in the next game by a Delta team penalty shot and a 1-0 score.
"If they boys play the way they can they should come out on top," Hurlbert said.
Playing a good game is more important than winning in Hurlbert's view. He's trying to teach the boys about soccer.
"If they play well and lose that's OK."
Next year the season could change divisions.
"We're aiming to get into gold next year," Hurlbert said.
