Playoffs beckon Rebel and Aztec boys

Playoffs beckon Rebel and Aztec boys’ teams
By Dan Hilborn, Burnaby NOW assistant editor
Published Nov. 17, 2002

If the coincidences keep coming, it could be Burnaby against Burnaby in Burnaby for the B.C. high school soccer championships this year.
While the probability of a face-to-face meeting between the Burnaby South Rebels and Alpha Aztecs may be slim, there is still a chance the two senior boys' soccer squads may meet each other as the B.C. finals get underway on Thursday at the Burnaby Lake fields.
Both local teams advanced to the B.C.s after defeating the Argyle Pipers in earlier playoff action.
The Rebels made the cut on Nov. 6 when Grade 9 Colin Streckmann, a member of the national champion Burnaby Canadians u-14 Select squad, struck with a blistering right-footed shot from the 30-yard marker.
"It was an absolutely great goal," Rebel coach Jack Attadia said. "Argyle played their positions well and were very aggressive. They didn't allow us to play our passing, ball-control game.
"But we hung on in a hard-fought game in the pouring rain," Attadia said. "It was very difficult to play."
The Aztecs won under even tougher circumstances on Wednesday when they needed an Argyle miscue with just one minute remaining in overtime before striker Andrew Proctor scored the only goal of the contest.
"Unfortunately for Argyle, we won it on a defensive miscue," said assistant coach Alfredo Valente. "Andrew Proctor got a semi- breakaway and scored. It was very dramatic."
But just getting to the B.C.s has been a tough road for the Aztecs, who earned the No. 2 seed position in the Burnaby, New West, North Shore division. After losing their first post season game by a 3-2 score to the No. 1 seeded Rebels, the Aztecs needed to win three games in a row to advance.
Two weeks ago, Alpha scored twice in the final five minutes to advance past Burnaby North by a 2-0 score. Last week, the club got goals from Giovanni Valente and Povin Baines to beat Handsworth 2- 1.
The key for the Aztecs will be to finish in top spot in their pool at the B.C.s.
"If you're not first in your group, you don't have a chance to win the tournament," Valente said. "We'll have to take it one step at a time."
For the Rebels, the key will come from shutting down their oppositions' forwards.
"I think we have to play a really strong defensive game," said Attadia. "We have to play a very disciplined control game and rely on our skill.
"We're not going to alter our game plan."