The AF Blazers hardly resembled a winless team as they took on the second-place North Enderby Timber Celtic Tuesday night at Marshall Field #1.
The Blazers relied on a solid team effort as they earned a 1-1 draw in a fast-paced North Okanagan Women’s Soccer Association Division 1 match.
The Blazers (0-8-3) owned a slight edge in play in the first half before the Celtics (4-4-4) found their groove in the final 40 minutes.
In the first half, Blazers wingers Krista Ference and newlywed Carissa Stanek (Morneau) worked tirelessly to get quality crosses in the 18 for strikers Marjorie Boisvert and Kailee Streichert, who put excellent pressure on the Celtics keeper.
In the 60th minute, Boisvert scored the Blazers lone goal knocking in her fourth of the season., getting a knee on a dynamite, hard cross from the right corner by Shantell Hayhurst.
Speedster Jackie Morneau equalized shortly after on a great through ball from Ashley Krause. Morneau used her always dangerous speed to blow by the defenders and sneak the ball in off the post.
Keeper Katie Hatten was phenomenal in her first game back in net for the Blazers after having ankle surgery in May.
Midfielders Bettina Berger and Becky Dodds, along with defenders Amber Maltman and Jeanette Maleska, did an excellent job of shutting down the Celtics attack which was led by slick Paige Doherty.
In other first division play, Dr. Lee Dental Clinic drew 2-2 with Glenn Power of Salmon Arm at Marshall Field #5.
Jacquie Hansen opened the scoring eight minutes in from an Irene Arrotta corner, and Margo Fleming made it 2-0 five minutes into the second half.
Dr. Lee survived a late flurry from Glenn Power to remain undefeated at 11-0-2. It was a well played, well refereed game which went back and forth.
Rosters run over Drillers 3-1
In Masters Division play Tuesday night, Rosters grounded Goplen Drillers 3-1 at Marshall #3.
Starting the game with 10 players, the 3-10-1 Drillers had some early chances, but were unable to convert.
Renee Cooke, Tania Mund and Peggy Warnes supplied offence for 5-6-3 Rosters.
The Drillers clicked in the second half when wing half Geri O’Brien made a great run up the line and placed a perfect cross in to striker Michelle Connolly, who easily tapped it home for her first goal of the season.
Maura McCarthy put on many miles for the Drillers, playing in several different positions throughout the game. All the Drillers worked hard and matched up to the physical play of Rosters.
The league-leading Chick Kickers ambushed the second-year Season’s Sista’s 11-0 at Marshall #2.
The 0-13-1 Sista’s showed great sportsmanship and effort against the 12-1-1 Chicks who have been in great form lately.
Wendy Magnus netted her first-ever goal on a great header from a Kelly Challen cross, while Wendy Martens, Shauna Stenquist, Crystal Bergman and Challen each supplied a deuce. Other singles came from Colline Johnson and Michelle Johnson.
Controllers shut down Kaos 5-0
The Controllers produced four goals in the first half and cruised to a 5-0 win over Shuswap Kaos at Marshall #4.
Ang Durfeld took Michelle Mercer’s cross and laid it off to striker Emma Louis, who ripped a 20 yarder for the first tally.
Jody Pope then sent Jenn Spitzer away andSpitzer put an outside-in move on a Kaos defender before sending a rocket over the keeper for the prettiest goal of the night.
Sena Bishop set up Leslie Epp minutes later, Epp’s low drive was too much to handle for the Kaos keeper.
Michele Wernicke’s corner was headed on by Felicia O’Gorman to Durfeld, who headed the ball over the defender just inside the post to put the Controllers up by four at the half.
Midfielder Krista Copeland played a great game scoring her first of the season as she pounded home a penalty kick for the only goal of the second half.
Great play was turned in by the backline of Jenny Currie, Jody Pope, Bishop, and Epp which gave keeper Mickey Templeton time to read Entertainment Weekly for the shutout.
Midfielders Wernicke, whose dangerous corner-kicks gave Kaos fits all night, and Michelle Mercer, also enjoyed strong games. The Controllers improved to 9-3-2, good for a share of third spotwith the idle Longhorn Impact. The Kaos dipped to 1-9-3.
Vernon Liquor Store NOU and Setters Pub played a friendly in Salmon Arm because no officials showed.
