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Crusaders prepare for provincials in a unique way

Oct 28, 2011 | 7:25 AM

If the conclusion of Wednesday’s practice was any indication, the Carlton Crusaders will enter the 3A Girls Provincial Soccer Tournament this weekend with a light, loose demeanour.

With the most important tournament of the year only days away, the Crusaders closed practice with a game of Duck-Duck-Goose as they ran around centre field like a bunch of carefree kindergarteners, giggling and cheering each other on.

But make no mistake, the Crusaders are taking the tournament seriously and there is a very good reason they play seemingly silly games. According to Crusaders head coach Jenn Ferguson, team building exercises like this have been essential for all they’ve accomplished this season and recent years but most of all, to have a tightly-knit team.

“We really believe that a large part of our success is due to the fun we have as a team off the field and we really stressed that (Wednesday),” Ferguson said.

“We think that being a team is more important than the medal that’s hanging around your neck at the end of a weekend.

“When we go to (tournaments in) Moose Jaw, we always have a team supper and a dance party … in our hotel. When we go to Yorkton, we go for a team supper and go bowling. We try and really stress the importance that these are lifelong friends that you’re making. When you get together at your 10-year high school reunion, you’re not going to necessarily talk about the gold or silver medal, you’re going to talk about all the fun you had every day with each other.”

As a result for having so much fun off the field, their on-field product has been actually improved.

“They are better communicators because of it, they want to win for each other than just for themselves,” Ferguson said, “and you can’t ask for anything more than that from a team.”

The Crusaders will have their hands full on the weekend as Ferguson thinks the field this year, including the St. Mary Marauders, is anybody’s tournament.

“This is the closest competition that I remember at a soccer provincials in a really long time,” said Ferguson.

“I think there’s not that big of a gap between one and eight like there have been in years past. We’re feeling confident, but we know it’s going to be about the team that plays the best on that day.”

The St. Mary Marauders were the best team on the field the last time they played against the Crusaders in a thrilling 5-4 victory at the regional tournament last week.

The Marauders also beat North Battleford 11-0 to advance to the regional finals and come into the provincial tournament on a high.

The Crusaders will take on Saskatoon St. Joseph in their first game, 11 a.m. on Friday while the Marauders will battle against Saskatoon Hardy, at 9 a.m.

In the other matchups, Regina LeBoldus will play Weyburn, and Regina Riffel will face-off against Swift Current.

All games are at Prime Minister’s Park. The second batch of games will be at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. The final games will be on Saturday, with the gold medal match at 3 p.m., the bronze at 12 p.m. and the consolation at 10 a.m..

Check panow.com for a Marauders preview.

jdandrea@panow.com