The Cochrane High Cobras varsity girls soccer team is undefeated in their first two games of the Rocky View Sports season, but to so had to get by the Bow Valley Bobcats in a close 1-0 match, Sept. 19.

The Cobras scored the sole goal of the game in the first half and much of the second half was played in the midfield with only a few serious threats by either team deep in the box.

Cobras coach Carilyn McLeod praised the play of the Bobcats and also appreciated the tough match after their easy win against the young Croxford Cavaliers soccer program

"It was a little bit tougher than we bargained for," says McLeod. "We have some work to do, we have some things to decide and to develop."

"They played very tough and they didn't backdown and they play very strong soccer and they kept us out of their box," says McLeod. "We got into the end, but we couldn't get in the box and that's the money spot if you can get in there."

The Cobras breezed by the Croxford square, 11-0, in their opening match of the season so coming up against the Bobcats served as a bit of an eye opener for their younger players who form the majority of the roster.

"It was a good match for them to realize that soccer's not like last week where you have all the time in the world. You have to be on your toes and the ball's not going to come to you and you've got to get going and get there and make something happen and not wait for something to happen."

The Cobras now face the Springbank Phoenix and McLeod expects another tough matchup. The Cobras have a couple players out with injuries, making it an even greater challenge.

Bobcats head coach Rob Makkreel says they have already played what they expect to be their tough opponents of the season. They lost their season opener against Springbank in another close 1-0 match before facing the Cobras.

"It was competitve today. They had us the first half but the wind was a determining factor," says Makkreet. "We were a little bit more competitve in the second when we had the wind behind us."

"We're competitive with them and Springbank was a tough game and it was a flukey goal that won the game. This one also came down to one goal."

"There's lots of soccer yet. The goal is to be up there; we'll see them again."

The challenge faced by the Bobcats year-in, year-out is being a smaller school, he explains, and having a scant number of players who play league soccer,

"We have a lot of girls that don't play league soccer on our team. We have nine soccer players and the rest are athletes. It's hard because a lot of the kids are learning the game and playing hard out there while you're playing a team of about 15-16 soccer players."

Also hurting is losing top player Chloe Cameron for the season and she known for being a talented striker.

Still, the Bobcats are coming off the best season in the school's history by winning the silver in divisionals, falling only to the Phoenix in the finals after beating the Cobras in the semis. The Cobras won bronze after a long string of gold medals.and a winning streak that dates back to 2009.

The Bobcats face the Bert Church Chargers on Thursday night in Airdrie. Their first home game of the season is on Sept. 28 against the George McDougall Mustangs at the SLS Legacy Field.