CORNER BROOK It's been almost two months since the Under-16 Boys Provincial Soccer League began play.
Out east, anyway.
Team Western finally takes to the field this weekend for a two-game set against Avalon at Wellington Street Sports Complex.
While Western have yet to see any action, the Avalon squad has competed six times and were soundly defeated in all but one of them, a 5-5 tie against Burin Peninsula back on May 19.
At 0-5-1, with a goal differential of minus-22, Avalon may serve as the perfect season-opening opponent for a team trying to find its legs in a hurry.
"I've heard they aren't doing too great," said Western goalkeeper Tyler Kelloway. "But we're just trying to expect the best from ourselves, that's all.
"We're hoping for two wins this weekend."
Kelloway, the son of Julie and Adrian of Corner Brook, has been playing goal in soccer for less than a year, after volunteering his services last summer when his under-14 Mega team found itself without a keeper.
"I said I'd do it and I just kept going with it," said the 15-year-old, who turns 16 in July. "I like seeing everything ... I like seeing the whole field."
He's made a pretty good impression so far, even attracting the attention of the Sorrento Tactics FC of the local senior men's league. He's suited up for them twice so far.
"It's a lot more rough than anything I've played before," he said of playing against the men.
With only players his own age to worry about this weekend, Kelloway is optimistic Western can come together quickly and produce some positive results to start the season.
The team finished in second place in the league last year, but many of those players have since graduated to the under-18 program.
"I think we've got a pretty good team," he said. "We've got potential, for sure.
"We're just excited to finally get the first game in."
Western hosts Avalon 8 p.m. tonight and 11 a.m. Sunday at the soccer pitch on Wellington Street.
