{"id":21612,"date":"2016-10-18T05:53:36","date_gmt":"2016-10-18T09:53:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/huntsville.dopperonline.ca\/?p=21612"},"modified":"2016-10-18T16:21:19","modified_gmt":"2016-10-18T20:21:19","slug":"ben-van-der-staay-hoyas-soccer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/doppleronline.ca\/huntsville\/ben-van-der-staay-hoyas-soccer\/","title":{"rendered":"Ben van der Staay returns as assistant coach of undefeated Jr. Hoyas soccer team"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Huntsville Hoyas Senior Boys soccer team is hoping for a return to the OFSAA championships and the Junior Hoyas want to be right there with them.<\/p>\n

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The Sr. Hoyas hit a bump in the road Thursday when they lost to the Parry Sound Panthers 3-2 in the final regular season game. It was their first loss in four years and, as coach John Cowan said, a bit of a wake up call.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe players had an hour-long trip returning from Parry Sound to reflect on the day\u2019s efforts and begin the process of examining strategies and steps required to have success at next week\u2019s Muskoka Parry Sound championships,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

The Jr. Hoyas meanwhile finished their season Thursday with a 3-1 win over Almaguin and 2-0 win over Parry Sound. That gave Huntsville a perfect 6-0 win-loss record for the regular season and lots of optimism going into their playoff next Friday in the Muskoka Parry Sound championship.<\/p>\n

Coach Jennifer Cooper says her team is used to winning. Several members also played on the Huntsville Soccer Club\u2019s U14 team that went undefeated in 14 games this year.<\/p>\n

They have played together for a long time, some since they were eight years old, so they have that advantage of playing with each other, and they have so much fun. They\u2019re known for being really good students and respectful of each other.Jr. Hoyas Soccer coach Jennifer Cooper<\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Another key to their success has been the addition of coach Ben van der Staay, who has brought a lot of valuable playing experience to the team. van der Staay played soccer at Huntsville High school as well as some varsity games at University of Guelph and with the city of Guelph and London City. He was quick to get involved after returning to Huntsville to teach physics and biology at the high school.<\/p>\n

\u201cBen has brought in some really good skills training,\u201d said Cooper, \u201cand he played here so it’s kind of cool to have that kind of mentor for the kids.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Ben

Assistant Coach Ben van der Staay with the Hoyas Jr. Boys soccer team<\/p><\/div>\n

Second-year player Kyler Campbell says a good part of the team’s success is team play with no selfish players. \u201cBen not only teaches us skills,\u201d said Campbell, \u201cbut how to be a great student athlete, and work hard and reach your goals.\u201d<\/p>\n

Cam Aben, also a second year player, agrees. \u201cEveryone works together to get stuff done and so far it\u2019s been working for us,\u201d he said. \u201cWe can go really far if we keep this attitude.\u201d<\/p>\n

Eric Bertelsen says the team loves working with Ben. \u201cHe\u2019s great,\u201d he said. “He brings motivation, teaches skills and agility, makes us go for long runs and he\u2019s funny too.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\t\t