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The Athol-South Marysburgh Public School Eagles are 2025 District Champions after downing host Bayside 4-0 in the finals October 17. The squad went 10-0-0 between the County and District Championships. (Supplied Photo)
One of smallest schools in the Hastings Prince Edward District School Board can boast its best soccer club.
The Athol-South Marysburgh Public School Eagles ran roughshod over the competition at both the County tournament October 3 and the regional finals October 17. The birds blitzed the competition, surrendering just three goals in 10 games over the two tournament stretch. The team is now District Champion.
Eagles coach Andrew White said it was fun watching the school punch well above its weight.
—Athol-South Principal Heather McMaster
“We are incredibly proud of these players. Their win reminds us all that genuine
camaraderie blended with skill and hard work is truly the key to success on and off the field.”
“The team is made up of the perfect combination of both highly-skilled and hard-working players,” he said. “They all played unselfishly and despite a very short season, really played together as a team. I felt lucky to be their coach.”
The Eagles punched their ticket to the District with a 3-1 win over hosts the Kente Cougars. Overall, the Eagles filled the net, outscoring the other County elementary teams 29-1 over six matches.
At the District finals at Bayside, the Eagles kept up the torrid offensive pace and stingy defence. A 3-0 win over the host Red Devils opened the tournament. They stung the Stirling Public School Stingers 3-1 to go 2-0-0 in the preliminary round.
In the semis, the Eagles tamed the York River Public School Otters 4-0 with keeper Elliot van der Bij submitting his second clean sheet of the showdown.
A rematch with the hosts in the 2025 District Finals was another triumph as the Eagles won a second 4-0 contest to claim the trophy.
Overall, Striker Remington Leavitt powered the Eagles offence with a big boot, sending nine goals into the opposition’s net. Jack Cleave and Noah Thompson chipped in with a pair of goals each while Nico Gierak added a single.
“We are incredibly proud of these players. Their win reminds us all that genuine camaraderie blended with skill and hard work is truly the key to success on and off the field,” Athol-South Principal Heather McMaster said. “A heartfelt thank you to Mr. White, all the families, and the students for being such a remarkable team.”
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