Two championship games, two medals for Cochrane high school senior girls soccer teams.

The Cochrane Cobras regained the Rocky View Sports crown they lent to the Springbank Phoenix for one season while the Bow Valley Bobcats played a little game of deja vu with the Bert Church Chargers, Oct. 19, at the SLS Legacy Sports Field. The Cobras won 3-0 and the Bobcats overcame the Chargers in a shootout to break a 1-1 tie and claim the bronze medal.

The Cobras were literally supercharged for their rematch with the Phoenix and it was something they largely did on their own. Head coach Carolyn McLeod was impressed with how fired up they were for the game.

"We said nothing to them," says McLeod. "They went to the end line, they did their own warm up, they had all these things happening, they had their own little chat. they had little rituals in place. Their heads were in the game before we even said one word to them. And then we barely had to say much and they went and they did their job. They were very focused. I have not seen them this focused all year."

The Cobras knew they were going to be competitive this season, but the question mark was how the many new players would fit into the chemistry. Springbank was their biggest concern all season and did hand them their only loss of the regular season.

"The girls are such quick learners and so keen and every practice you could see them getting stronger and stronger. They've got this energy they've been bringing all season."

"The soccer was amazing. It was just beautiful."

Their regular goalkeep was injured just prior to the start of the game and Daphne Hayes, the team's top striker, was called into action five minutes before the whistle blew.

Scoring for the Cobras were Anne Roth, Jamie Rovere and Julia Price,

For the Bobcats, it was a case of deja vu against the Chargers. Earlier in the season in a Drumheller tournament they had an identical scenario. The Chargers scored first and then the Bobcats tied it up late in the game and went on to win in a shootout.

The same thing happened here. The Chargers took a 1-0 lead in the second half and with about eight minutes left in play Sydney Perron tied it up to force a shootout.

The Bobcats are in their comfort zone when a game comes down to the one-on-one contest between strikers and goalkeeps. Head coach Ron Makkreel says the team practices those shots constantly and there's a little history as to why.

"Five years ago we lost a final on penalty shots, and decided never again. Everyday they must be taking hundred penalty shots and it's as much for Mackena (Stephenson) as much as it is for our girls."

Stephenson turned away all but one shooter during the showdown and made some spectacular saves in the crunch to keep the game scoreless until late in the second.

"At least once and twice a game she steals it for us," says Makkreel. "She made one shot go wide early in the game and then made two big saves, which the last one was unbelieveable. She takes the pressure on herself and it doesn't go on the other girls and she says "No big deal."

"We're going to miss her next year."

With time running out, Perron was pulled from her normal position of centre back in a successful attempt to tie the match.

"She's so fast and she has quick feet.," says Makkreel.

Both teams are currently participating in the zone finals in Springbank.