Turn-Key Controls looked to the Pool brothers for offence as they opened their 2013 North Okanagan Soccer League season with a 3-0 win over Riot FC Wednesday night at Marshall Field #2.
Riot FC (formerly Davidson & Co. Dynamite) looked to be in mid-season form in the early going, controlling the first 10 minutes of play before Nolan’s Pharmasave Man of the Match Nathan Tucker found some space off a corner from newcomer Mike Bennett, blasting in a left footer.
Turn-Key settled down from there, with Bennett creating another chance that found Andrew Pool, who converted bottom, left corner.
Bennett enjoyed a chance of his own shortly after but was denied by the post in a goal-mouth scramble.
Not to be outdone by Andrew, older brother Thomas Pool finished a beautiful passing play to make it 3-0 at the half.
Neither side had any Grade A-scoring chances in the second half. A tiring Turn-Key squad, playing with only one sub because several regulars were writing university exams, withstood some early pressure by the Riot before engaging in a midfield battle.
The Turn-Key defence of Carson Haywood Farmer, Liam Eddy, Sean Bonnett, Bryce Paterson and Taylor Horsting were solid in limiting Riot to through balls that were swallowed up by keeper Gregg Douma.
Douma earned his clean sheet near the end of the game, deflecting a Riot shot with his fingertips and off the crossbar with the Total Restoration save of the game.
In other first-week action, Salmon Arm Courvas built up a 3-0 lead and hung on for a 4-3 win over Monashee Surveying FC at Marshall Field #1.
The cagey Monashaee crew showed up with a handful of newbies and returnees and fell in a 3-0 hole early after some sharp Courvas passing and an unfortunate hand-ball penalty kick.
With pressure building, new recruit Chris Trethewey sailed a ball into the box where Devon Merroit flicked it on to Tyler Johnson, who muscled off defenders for the opening Monashee goal.
Monashee struck again in the second half on a corner that floated away from the keeper and was headed in by Matt Mckeown.
With time ticking down, Monashee capitalized after some big pressure with wonderkid Alberto Lopez dangling for the equalizer. Courvas was awarded a penalty kick on a hand ball with seconds remaining and put it away.
Red Robin Man of the Match Dave Henry turned in strong defence for Monashee.
Defending champion North Enderby Timber grounded Peters Tirecraft 3-0 at Marshall Field #5.
Jesse Knight scored first on a blast from outside the 18 and crafty veteran Chris Ovens buried a rebound to make it 2-0.
Youngster Tyler Loose connected on a near-post laser from the left side of the 18 to complete the NET attack. Earlier, Loose struck the VantageOne Centre wall on a penalty kick.
Danny Stein and Bryndon Buckham shared the shutout while finishing their taxes online.
King jumpstarts Dr. Lee’s
Dr. Lee’s Dental opened the season by brushing back the AF Blazers 3-1 in North Okanagan Women’s Soccer Association Division 1 play Tuesday night at Marshall Field #1.
Andi King started the scoring on a well-placed corner that went top shelf, giving the shorthanded Floss crew a 1-0 lead at the half.
Jacquie Hansen put Dr. Lee ahead 2-0 converting a great through ball from Ally Dodds. Hailey Woon replied for the Blazers, collecting a loose ball and deking through the defence. King then clicked again off a great 30-yard strike.
Shelby Price and Valentina Correale of the Blazers had several scoring opportunities, but were unable to convert. The Blazers received strong showings from returnees Jane Sutton, Amanda Swales and Jen Hatten, who all took last season off to welcome new children to their families.
Jeanette Maleska and Amber Maltman were all stars on defence.
The NET Celtics jumpstarted their season with a 2-0 win over the expansion Wrap Zone girls at Marshall #4.
The Celtics opened the scoring when Heidi Holtmann dashed down the right side and calmly crossed a ball to a streaking veteran Sarah Ehman, who converted in style.
Jen Siegmueller was all alone outside the 18 early in the second half, taking full control and hammered the ball past the keeper for the final goal.
“It definitely looked like our first game of the season; we played well and will surely work out some of the links for our next game,” said NET coach Graham Ross. “Wrap Zone will be very good once they gel and get more games under their belts. Newly-signed Hasia Glaim was stellar on defence, sacrificing her body countless times to stifle the Wrap Zone attack.”
Wrap Zone got stellar play from keepers Kelsey Paulin and Anna Clarke, while Carol Ann Bourdon took control of the middle and pumped the ball up to the waiting forwards Bryanna and Jenaelle Cole, Hailey Noakes and Sam Knight.
In Masters division action, North Okanagan United clipped the Controllers 1-0 at Marshall #5.
Shelley Henry scored off a brilliant pass up the middle from Sarah Kwantes in the first half. A leaner 2013 version of Cheryl Roddis recorded several great runs up the line and struck the post on a shot.
Keepers Sue Barss and Charlene McNaught shared the shutout. Karen Semph returned off injured reserve and was solid on the NOU defence, with a little help from her baby sister Shelly Johnston.
