The Vernon Controllers rediscovered their scoring touch in a 2-1 upset win over Longhorn Impact Thursday at Marshall Field #5.
The Controllers opened the North Okanagan Women’s Soccer Association Masters Division tilt with a short passing attack to create numerous opportunities early, but Impact keeper Dawn Lemiski was up to the challenge.
The 8-2-2 Impact converted one of just two shots in the half, with speedy Edeen Ramsay and Kim Wiebe working a give-and-go. From 10 yards out, Wiebe volleyed a great cross from Ramsay past a stunned Mickey Templeton, who had no chance on the play.
The 7-3-2 Controllers equalized in the second half when Jacquie Nuyens worked her magic to set up hard-working Emma Louis for a post-and-in blast. Nuyens, in Gretzky-like fashion, set up Jenn Spitzer, who launched a rocket just inside the near post for the winner with five minutes to go.
Krista Copeland and Krista Backer were stellar in the midfield, and Michele Wernicke and Leslie Epp kept the Impact attack at bay. Jenny Currie and Val Percy were solid on the back line, and speedy Jody Pope was stellar in running down Ramsay and Wiebe on multiple breakaways.
Said Controllers’ coach Doug Macdonald: “Very hard to single out one player; everyone gave it their best you couldn’t ask for anything more.”
In other Thursday Masters action, Goplen’s Drillers clipped Shuswap Merlot 2-1 on a muggy Marshall #1.
Both teams were understaffed, resulting in all the players having no breaks. Merlot (4-5-3) took the lead at the 25-minute mark, but the Drillers (3-8-1) answered five minutes later. Forward Karen Zupp, unable to shoot in the 18-yard box, passed back to Michelle Loxam who hammered the ball perfectly over the keeper’s outstretched arms.
The Drillers dominated play through the second half, with halfbacks Michelle Connolly, Karinda McGaw, Aggie Golosinski and Loxam servicing forwards Geri O’Brien and Zupp.
With 10 minutes to play, O’Brien celebrated her 40th birthday by delivering a great pass to McGaw, who calmly scored her first-ever goal.
Defenders Kate Ball, Jodi Peshko, Tracey Hill and Krista MacCagno held Merlot at bay, making life easy for Driller keeper Shawn Nickoli.
In earlier Masters Division play, Bonnie Mann turned in a stellar shutout performance as the Chick Kickers blanked Rosters 4-0 Tuesday on Marshall #1.
Jenny Garnet started the scoring with a beautiful goal off a pass from Jen Sorochuk, who then made it 2-0 on a great head in from Trish Cox.
Cox set up yet another goal with a sweet cross to Garnet. Colline Johnson completed the scoring.
n In women’s Division 2 play Thursday, shortstaffed Centerline Attack fell 6-0 to Randy’s Rockets.
In danger of forfeiture, Centreline had a seventh player (the minimum allowed) arrive at the last minute. In an act of sportsmanship, Rockets’ head coach Kees Huisken sent out just nine players.
Dana Dimmick and Kris Ponto shared netminding duties for Centreline, while Charly Leverman ran miles in the heat. Tammy L’heureux generated some quality chances, and Mandy Norwood and Anna Clark were terrific up front. Stephanie Paull and Allie Geisbrecht also persevered in the heat.
Capri Insurance (2-8-3) forfeited their Division 2 game with North Okanagan United Tier 2 (7-2-4) Thursday due to a lack of players.
n Mike Lloyd pulled the hat trick as Kal Tire doubled Westside 4-2 in men’s 50+ league play Thursday night at Constable Neil Bruce School in West Kelowna.
Defender Ted Sheehan, on a 25-yard breakaway and rocket low shot, opened the Kal Tire scoring. Glen Cochrane and Mughar Mann replied for Westside.
Central defender Roger Irving returned from six weeks on injured reserve and was the Longhorn Man of the Match for the Tiremen (8-5-1).
In other 50+ action Thursday night, Vernon’s Silver Stars settled for a 2 – 2 draw with the Kelowna kickers on Marshall #3.
The 5-6-3 Stars went down 1-0 to the 10-man starting Kelowna squad early after miscommunication on a back pass resulted in a breakaway goal.
The Stars got on track and evened the score with a tap in from Mahmoud Abdelkader, on a Jenne Heberts cross. The play was very slow from the extreme heat, and as was noticed by a few players on the next field, a dog was chasing a cat, and they were both walking too.
Rob Ross put the stars ahead 2-1 by burying a nice through ball. Kelowna tied the game in the dying minutes with a rush down the right side, catching helpless keeper Ray Tims out of his net on the challenge. Dick Markin was the Stars’ Man of the Match.
