It had to come down to a shootout to decide who would win gold in boys soccer and make the long drive home with all the gold hardware.
But Thompson-Okanagan – Zone 2 came out on top thanks to efforts by keeper Brenan Martin, leading to a 1-0 shootout win and securing the victory over Vancouver-Coastal – Zone 5.
Thompson-Okanagan coach Yann Calmets said he knew that Vancouver-Coastal was a good team with strong defence.
But after each game that Thompson-Okanagan played they took stock of how to improve.
“It was a very good group because we practiced maybe two times together.” The two goal keepers, Martin and Ryan Peters supported each other no matter who was in the net, Calmets added.
“Most important, was to work together,” he said.
Ten of the players were from Kelowna, five were from Penticton and three from Kamloops.
With Vancouver Coastal – Zone 5 taking the silver, Fraser River – Zone 4 took the bronze with a 5-4 shootout win over Fraser Valley – Zone 3.
Vancouver Island-Central Coast – Zone 6 finished in fifth place with a 4-1 win over sixth-place Cariboo-North East – Zone 8.
North West – Zone 8 beat Kootenays – Zone 1 for seventh and eighth spots.
