Central Okanagan teams are a force to be reckoned with in B.C. high school girls’ soccer.
That much was made clear last weekend as local schools won medals at all three B.C. School Sports championships.
The Mt. Boucherie Bears grabbed silver at the provincinal AAA championship in Surrey, the Okanagan Mission Huskies struck silver at the B.C. AA finals in Kamloops, while the host Immaculata Mustangs captured bronze at the provincial A girls playdowns.
Bears win silver…
Boucherie’s second-place showing in Surrey at the AAA provincials was the school’s best result ever.
The Bears, who settled for second best at valleys last month, opened with a convincing 3-1 win in pool play over South Delta, the champions of the Vikes UVic tourney.
In Game 2, Boucherie tied Kitsilano 0-0, before beating Belmont 2-0 in the final game of ppool play.
In the playoffs, a the Bears scored a dramatic shootout win over Handsworth, the 2009 provincial champs. After a scoreless regulation, Michelle Blackburne, Kailey Nicholl, Nikayla Gabriel, and Jordan Tassone scored on kicks to give the Bears a 4-3 victory. Keeper Baily Weymouth, made two great stops in the shootout after a solid game in regulation and overtime.
The Bears then advanced to the championship game against Panorama Ridge, the top team in the Fraser Valley which features two provincial team players and goalkeeper who plays for the Whitecaps Prospects. Panorama had outscored its opponents
The Bears held their own, with the only goal of the game came from Panorama in the second half and was the difference in a 1-0 final score.
“I think we really proved ourselves against the province’s best teams and showed that we came to play,” said Baily Weymouth, the Bears’ captain. “Winning a medal was very satisfying for our team.”
The silver medal champion Bears are: Breanna Anderson, Rachel Anderson, Michelle Blackburne, Laina Burton, Victoria Dauncey-Elwood, Jessa Gabriel, Nikayla Gabriel, Jayden Koop, Haylee Lakovic, Haley Loudoun, Kiara Mayer Jayme Miller, Rachel Morrison, Kailey Nicholl, Mikayla Sherry, Sydney Solland, Jordan Tassone and Baily Weymouth.
Silver for Huskies…
In Kamloops, the Okanagan Mission Huskies overcame a 1-0 half-time deficit to edge No. 1-ranked Burnsview Secondary in the opener of the AA championships.
Taylor Lowenberg crossed to Jodie Fedkiw for the game winner in the second half.
Game 2 saw OKM play to a scoreless draw with Crofton House. Alana Hazell was the Huskies MVP in each of the first two games.
In the final game of pool play, the Huskies again came from behind to beat Shawnigan Lake 2-1 as Dani Rivet scored the winner with three minutes remaining.
In the semis, met perennial powerhouse St. Thomas More and prevailed with a 2-0. Taylor Lowenberg scored both goals and MVP Ana Biagi earned the shutout.
In the gold medal match, OKM put up a fight but succumbed 1-0 to Seycove Secondary, as Alana Hazell went down in the seventh minute with an injury.
Still, head coach Mark Slade had nothing but praise for the Huskies and their silver medal effort.
The girls had a goal of winning the provincial championship and never waivered from that,” said Slade. “I am so impressed by their gutsy play when they were down and the leadership from certain players. While they came up a little short in the final, they left everything they had on the field.”
The Huskies are: Daneka McFetridge, Jodie Fedkiw, Halle Stewart, Taylor Lowenberg, Santana Tarasewich, Justine Horne, Kelsey Reid, Shelby Dane, Kandace Robinson, Jilene Robertson, Katie Capozzi, Chrissy MacDonald, Kelsey Slattery, Ashley Stemler, Alana Hazell, Emily Tomaszewski, Ana Biagi, Dani Rivet, Becca Kletke, Desta Shaw Naka, Anna Leitch, Kyla Thurnheer and Kenzie Sharko. The coaches are Mark Slade and Jeremy Dillabough.
Mustangs win bronze…
The host Immaculata Mustangs defeated Rossland 4-0 on Saturday in Kelowna to capture third place at the B.C. A girls championship.
The Mustangs’ only loss of the weekend was a 1-0 setback at the hands of the eventual B.C. champs from Southridge in the semifinals.
“The girls played well and they played hard,” said Immaculata coach Paul Freire. “One bounce here or there, either way and it could have been different, but the girls still played their hearts out.”
The Mustangs went 3-0 in pool play, posting wins over Cedars, Fort St. James and Whistler.
Immaculata’s roster this season featured just one Grade 12 player, a promising sign for the future.
The 2012 Mustangs are: Justine Drosdovech, Olivia Johnson, Leaghan Penkala, Megan Jeffries, Alex Myshak-Davis, Siobhan Fitzpatrick, Theresa King, Rhea Virk, Alannah Macaulay,
Hannah Johnson, Jaedyn Penkala, Erin Graham, Emily Haber, Emma Johnson, Lindsay Lalach, Hayley Slade, Stephanie McCann, Amanda Grant and Ashley Prehofer. The coaches are Paul Freire and Todd Penkala.
