New Westminster Barcelona under-16-aged soccer team has another challenge ahead of it.
A core group from the defending under-15 provincial A Cup champion Barca squad will form a majority of the Fraser Valley Action u-21 women's reserve squad in the developmental Pacific Coast Soccer League.
Thirteen of the current Barca squad of 18 players, which are currently playing up two years in the u18 Metro girls' league, will be playing on the Action summer squad.
"From a player development perspective, there is no better opportunity for players to participate in high level games and to gain immeasurable experience over the April through July period," said Barca coach Shawn Cody.
Deanna Brady, Celeste Bain, Madison Savoie, Juliet Davies, Ellen Williams, Miki Knowler, Alessia Mastromonaco, Saran Ng, Rachel Hutchinson, Arsh Kaler, Montana Wegner, Cassie Jung and Kiersten Sawchuk are the Barca players who will be playing in the Pac coast league this summer.
The reserve division is made up of women's teams from Kelowna, Penticton, West Vancouver, Nanaimo and the local TSS Academy.
The New Westminster side is currently placed fifth in the Metro u-18 A group with a league record of 4-7-8, including a div-sion-high eight draws.
During the Easter long weekend, the Royal City Youth Soccer club team will take part at the GirlsCan Western Canada Soccer Showcase at Burnaby Lake Sports Complex.
Top Canadian Interuniversity Sports and NCAA programs, including Division II Simon Fraser University, will be actively scouting players at the tournament.
"The tournament is a fantastic opportunity for serious female footballers to be noticed and recruited," Cody added.
Barca's draw at the Easter showcase includes top level teams from Edmonton, Calgary and Kamloops.
