SL minor soccer teams in Alberta Soccer Provincials

July 27, 2026 · by Admin2017 · 0

The scoreboard may not have reflected the effort, but the Slave Lake Minor Soccer Association’s (SLMSA) U13 and U17 teams left the Alberta Soccer Provincials with something valuable.

Provincials

Both teams travelled to St. Paul on July 3 – 5 to compete at the provincials.
While neither the teams returned home with a medal, association president Randah Mouallem says the players proved they belonged on the provincial stage.
“They all played so well, but did not get the results we were hoping for,” Mouallem says.

U13

The U13 team finished eighth after recording one win and three losses.
Their opening loss came against the team that went on to capture the gold medal.
For the U13s, one of the tournament’s highlights came against Leduc, a familiar opponent from the Tony Wadsworth Tournament, which was the team’s first tournament in June this year.
Mouallem says it was the team’s strongest performance of the weekend.
“They played comfortably, they played confident, and they showed what they are capable of,” she says.

U17

The U17 squad finished seventh with two wins and two losses.
Mouallem says both teams continued to battle until the final whistle, regardless of the score.
“They played great and never gave up,” she says. “They defended hard, they made big saves, and they went for the big goal every chance they got.”
The U17s saved one of their biggest moments for their final game against Athabasca.
After improving with every match throughout the tournament, the game was decided in a penalty shootout.
Slave Lake scored on all five penalty attempts to secure the victory.

The Slave Lake Minor Soccer Association U13 team poses for a photo at the Alberta Soccer Provincials in St. Paul, which took place from July 3 to 5. From left to right: Z Abdul, Kaissac Twin, Ahmed Boursisse, Kareen Mouallem, Malek Kahwaji, and Alexander Martin. Photo courtesy of Randah Mouallem

More of the provincials

Despite the strong performances, both teams faced challenges.
The U13 roster featured only two players with previous provincial experience, while many were first-year U13 players or had moved up from U11.
The U17 team also competed against older and more experienced opponents because of its mixed U15 and U17 roster.
Mouallem says another disadvantage was the lack of league play before provincials. While many opposing teams entered the tournament after playing a full spring season, Slave Lake had not participated in league games.
“Our kids need more games ahead of Provincials,” she says.
Even so, Mouallem believes the season was a success because of how much the players developed both on and off the field.

Wrapping-up the season

During the outdoor season, players learned formations, teamwork and positional play, while tournaments helped them put those skills into action, says Mouallem.
“They go from a group of kids who play soccer together to a group of kids who truly care about one another and want to show up for each other,”Mouallem says.
Looking back, she says what stands out most is the players’ willingness to put the team ahead of themselves.
Mouallem says that the teams were not playing for themselves, they were playing for the team.
“The goals weren’t individual goals, they were team goals,”
Mouallem also credited the coaches and parents for making the season possible.
“We couldn’t do it without them.” she says. She says the parents are all amazing.
She says that they drive hours, bring food and supplies, and make sure the kids are ready to play.
With the outdoor season now complete, the association is preparing for its annual general meeting in August before launching its indoor season in September.
Registration is expected to open in August.
Mouallem encourages anyone who is interested in volunteering with the association to attend the Annual General Meeting.