Capilano squads in playoff picture By Andrew McCredie Sports Editor andrvew@nsnews.com FOUR Capilano College squads have qualified for post-sea- son tournament play. And while three of the teams = — men’s and women’s basketball and women’s: volleyball —- are heading to the provincials Blurs’ badminton plas compete on the National stage. The Blues’ doubles ream of Alison” Paterson and Francesca Setiadi won gold at last weekend’s B.C. tour- nament in Nanaimo and helped pace Cap’s team, coached by Janice Swansburg, to the silver medal. Last vear the Blues finished in dead last place. Paterson and Setiadi went undefeated this season and are the carly favorites for the gold medal at the National Championships March 4-6 in Edmonton. In basketball action, the men’s team splic weekend games to finish in fifth place (10-8 record) in regular league standin The Blues begin the B.C. Championship tournament tomorrow ats Langara College. The women cagers also splic their final league games, giving them an 8-10 record and a sixth place final league standing. The =women’s Championships begin tomorrow at_ Malaspina University College — in Nanaimo. In women’s volleyball, the Blues compiled an 11-6 match record in the B.C. collegiate tournament divi- sion. The Blues take to the court tomorrow at Okanagan College in Kelowna for the B.C. cham- pionship. - Capilano opens the tour- nament With a 10 a.m. game against league-leading Doughs College, followed by a2 p.m. match versus the host school. B.C. Wednesday. February 25. 1998 — North Shore News — 33 NEWS photo Terry Peters A North Vancouver Soccer Club player (in dark strip) batties for the bal! between two Norvan playzrs during imperial Cup action at Kinsmen Field on Sunday. Norvan, a division one club, defeated the second division North Van team €-nil to advance in the tournament. ubs battling back soccer Cc! By C.J. Thomas Contributing Writer GOOD Friday was definitely bad for North Shore soccer in 1996. anceuver Metro League Premier power Norvan F.C. was relegated to division one atter dropping a de, ending the club's son in recent memors Norvan was the North Shore’s glamour team in the early nineties, winniag consecutive national : iGuships in 199) and 1992, resent Canada internationally. nsmen Stadium burned to ch ymbolicall on after los- The club's rustic ground in the summer of 1994, and, s the team began to unravel the next ral play sto rival premier team ‘allowing the team’s relegation to to division one in 1996, manager Al Munroe accepted the task of rebuilding the club from the ashe “We never built a good youth CTs We glory years did not hav nel into the Mouth soccer system) on the Shore.” Norvant tern,” expldins had during the achan- North two important moves before last seas First, they entered a team in the Metro Deague’ s under 21 division and secondly, they recruited Gunther Frey to coach the under 21 squad. Youth movements the key to men’s teams improvement has been watching soccer on the North Shore for 30 sand represented a path into the youth syste “Nore an needed as he had coached numerous North Shore Select teams over t] This season Frey was appointed coach or the senior team and brought numerous young players along with him. That vorthtil team is now poised to return to the Metro League's clite 10-team premier league. The Metro League consists of LEO teams divided: and subdivided ‘ato tour divi Norvan needs to finish in first place in their half jon one to get the promotion and are cur- rently in first place with four wames remaining. Getting promoted back into the Premier League is critical according to Frey: “It’s important chat kids have something to aspire to. The premier league is the best place around to develop talent.” Frey agrees that Norvan would likely bring in eral veteran players ifthe team did get the promotion nod. At one time, three premier teams — Norvan, North Shore Pegasus and the West Van Trollers — played out of the North Shore, While Pegasus continues to flourish in premier play, the ‘Trollers tasted relegation fast season, but like Norvan are in good shape to reclaim their stats as a premier squad. Weot Van in fact have virtually sewn up a spot as th in first place by five points with two games to play, Division one is comprised of 20 team divid- ed inte two groups) Trollers coach Derek Possee savy the team was unlucky to have gone down Lasts dimmed the North Vancouver man’s unwavering lovalty to the team. “When we were relegaied [ immediately n the commitment to come back and coach, (and) f ately most players came back as well,” Pe “Our team is basically 2 premier level team play ing in division one.” Both Possce and Norvan coach Fre pr the new Metro under-21 league for its role in devel: oping voung talent. “Its been a huge benefit to us,” a tremendous opportunity to get the the environment of the big club so thes conitortably step in.” Frey agrees and says Norvan’s under-2] squad “has a big part in the club’s future.” Meanwhile both Norvan and the Trollers will get a taste of premier soccer this Sunday in the Imperial Cup. Norvan Possee, “It's ids involved in anone day reigning 2 p.m. resumes its rivalry with Provincial champions North Shore Pegasu at Kinsmen, while West Van battles premier Portuguese Club at Ambleside (also a 2 p.m. off). (Kids Hockey Team Not Included) mBuy with confidence from a dealer you can trust." 845 MARINE Drive, NORTH VAN. 9837-523