It took a little longer than expected, but for the first time in more than 20 years, supporters of the Centennial Centaurs senior girls soccer team were able to cheer the players on in their season-opening match Tuesday (April 5) just steps from the high school.
The Centaurs inaugurated the $3-million facility with a 3-0 win over the Terry Fox Ravens.
Kaitlyn Johnson, Catie Cameron and Madison Harder scored for Centennial, much to the delight of dozens of friends, family, teachers and students that lined the sideline and two small bleachers just next to Winslow Avenue in Coquitlam.
The artificial pitch was constructed on the site of the old Centennial Secondary, that was demolished in 2018 after a new school was opened just behind it.
Prior to its completion, the school’s soccer, field hockey and field lacrosse teams played home matches across town at Town Centre Park, while the football team practised and played on a grass field on the other side of Poirier Street.
The project, jointly funded by the city and School District 43 (SD43), was originally supposed to open in 2020.
It’s the seventh artificial turf field in Coquitlam, along with four fields at Town Centre, Percy Perry Stadium and Dr. Charles Best Secondary.
In other matches Tuesday that launched the first Fraser North senior girls AAA high school soccer season since 2019, following two years lost to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Dr. Charles Best Blue Devils defeated the Gleneagle Talons, 7-1, and Riverside topped the Heritage Woods Kodiaks, 4-1.
Danika Learmonth scored a pair of goals for the Rapids, while Kaitlyn Connelly and Hila Tata added singles.
- with files from Grant Granger
