Don't tell the South Delta Sun Devils 13 is an unlucky number.
That's how many consecutive years the senior girls soccer team has qualified for provincials - surpassing the previous record it shared with the North Delta Huskies.
The latest feat is hardly surprising given the Sun Devils are currently ranked No. 2 among 3A teams in B.C. and will be playing in their sixth Fraser Valley championship game in the last 10 years after a hard-fought 1-0 extra time semi-final win over Panorama Ridge on Monday. Yet, South Delta competes in what is considered to be toughest zone in the province and nothing can be taken for granted in sudden death playoff games.
"We know how tough it's going to be even though there are six (B.C.) berths," said assistant coach Brent Sweeney. "All it takes is a bad call or bounce. We certainly have had our share of breaks over the last few years."
The Sun Devils have also created their own good fortune thanks to a couple of dedicated coaches who have built a program that kids want to be a part of.
Head coach Stephen Burns has been overseeing the senior team for the past 18 years and Sweeney has been beside him for much of that stretch. Sure, a number of good athletes have come through the program but if the success was based on talent alone, no way South Delta would have achieved its elite status.
"Our goal and motto is to out work the other team," said Burns. "Very rarely do we show up against the top teams and you could say we are (the more talented) team.
"We work hard and compete well. When some can't make it to games, others step right in. It's a matter of putting these younger kids in those situations and it helps us down the line." The Devils secured their B.C. berth with a 1-0 quarter-final win over North Surrey last Thursday. Burns missed his first game in nearly two decades to attend a do-or-die playoff game for the other team he coaches - the No. 1 ranked McMath Wildcats.
The provincial streak is never mentioned to the girls but it's not hard to recognize the program's success.
"The girls know about the history," added Sweeney. "They see the alumni players coming out to watch and how they are still interested. You build a program where (the kids) want to be part of something. It's about hard work and getting the girls to play for each other."
South Delta will host No. 3 ranked Charles Best of Coquitlam in the Valley final on Thursday at Winskill turf. Game time is 3 p.m.
