KU teams continue to hone their skills at the Kamloops Slurpee Cup on the weekend.
Kelowna United U17/18 Boys
May 16-18th 2015
1st Game: Kelowna United 1, European Football School 1
Keeper Corey Bennett started the action that led to KU’s first goal of the tournament. He made a pass to Austin Glabus-MacLeod, who then passed it up to Kyle Martin. Martin carried the ball past EFS’s defense and scored to make it 1-0. Bennett again helped the team, making a fantastic save on a direct penalty kick, guessing exactly where the ball was coming. Unfortunately, EFS managed to score with less than a minute left, tying the game.
2nd Game: Kelowna United 2, Calgen 0
Although Calglen dominated possession in the first few minutes of the game, KU was able to score first when Raj Parmar passed the ball to Kyle Martin, who again opened the scoring for Kelowna United. The excellent defensive team of Zach Bradshaw and Hakeem Rockwell was able to stop Calglen from getting anywhere near the net. With a minute left in the game, Jaden McNulty, from the center circle, sent a rocket right over the keeper’s head, surprising everyone. The game ended with a 2-0 score for KU.
3rd Game: Kelowna United 0, Vancouver Island Riptide 0
Both teams came out ready to play. The ball travelled up and down the field, but neither team was able to capitalize. The game ended in a 0-0 draw.
4th Game: Kelowna United 0, Kamloops 0
With a win, and two draws, Kelowna United was able to make it to the Gold Medal match against old foes, the Kamloops U18 team. The gold medal match was a tense, exciting game. Both teams had some great chances, with Kamloops hitting the cross bar at one point. The teams were very evenly matched – neither team could get the ball past the keepers, though, and the game ended in a draw. The teams were declared co-champions, with Kelowna United getting the gold medal in the Slurpee Cup for the second year in a row.
Thank you very much to Diego Silva-Betancourt for coming out and helping our team. You were a great addition.
Kelowna United U12 Girls – Dynamite
May 16-18th 2015
1st Game: KU Dynamite 0, Prince George 0
2nd Game: KU Dynamite 3, MidIsle Highlanders 1
3rd Game: KU Dynamite 5, Vernon (1) 0
4th Game: KU Dynamite 3, Kamloops 1
Kelowna Dynamite had a successful Slurpee Cup in Kamloops, going undefeated in their pool and outscoring their opponents 11-2. The first game had Dynamite facing a team from Prince George. It was all Kelowna as Dynamite’s relentless attack resulted in the play being entirely in Prince George’s end for the whole game. But despite getting 13 shots on goal and stopping PG from getting any, Kelowna could not find the back of the net and the game ended in a nil-nil draw. The second game was against the Mid Isle Highlanders. The Dynamite got off to an excellent start and were up 2-0 by the 10 minute mark. It looked like the rout was on, but the Highlanders stiffened up defensively and started to blunt the Dynamite attack. The coastal team got on the score sheet just before the half when one of their rare attacks resulted in a cross going in off a Kelowna defender for an own goal (or “selfie,” as the Dynamite girls call them). But Dynamite scored again early in the second half and continued to press for the rest of the game, winning 3-1. The third opponent saw them facing Vernon 1 for the fourth time this season, and Dynamite cruised to a comfortable 5-0 victory. The final match was against Kamloops Orange, with the home team clearly determined to avenge a 4-0 drubbing earlier in the season. It was a physical contest with hard tackles on both sides, but by the halfway mark Kelowna was up 3-1, and that was how the game ended. The score could have been much more lopsided but the Kamloops keeper stood on her head and made half a dozen spectacular saves.
pic: U12 Dynamite Team
Kelowna United U12 Girls – Kobras
May 16-18th 2015
1st Game: KU Kobras 1, Edmonton 0
The girls faced a very talented team from Edmonton who came to play. Their passing was very crisp and tactical, but the Kobras didn’t give them much room. The defence of the Kelowna team, backboned by Chloe Dalgarno and Jordyn Jensen, allowed few shots in the first half. Kelowna pulled ahead when a shot by Amaryn Cunningham found the top corner. Edmonton put more pressure on Kelowna in the second half but couldn’t break thru the heroic goaltending of Paige Cates. This was one of the best games the girls have played all year.
2nd Game: KU Kobras 2, Comox 0
Comox Valley brought a strong team to the Slurpee Cup, but were stymied by the strong defense and the tenacity of Maya Rose, playing centre. They couldn’t take two steps without having Maya on their front porch. Finally Abbey McCann potted one to break the deadlock. Kelowna locked in the victory when Jaidyn McGrath sent a cross into the box and Amaryn Cunningham made no mistake.
3rd Game: KU Kobras 3, Vernon (2) 0
It didn’t take the Kobras long to open up the scoring when Annika Gross potted a nice shot. She netted another shortly after off a rebound on a hard shot from Amaryn Cunningham. The goaltenders were well protected as the likes of Sophie Smith and Krysha Czenczek deflected attackers in waves. Abbey McCann got a beautiful goal after fighting off defenders as she flew down the wing, bouncing one in off the defense.
4th Game: KU Kobras 3, Kamloops 0
Trying to keep the shutout streak alive, the girls faced the host Kamloops team for the last game of the tournament. Krysha Czenczek got one in the 18th minute as she snuck a ball between the tenders’ legs. Naomi Stearns had many phenomenal chances down the middle and opened up some opportunities for the outside midfielders. Chloe Dalgarno benefitted from this as she buried a brisk feed from Maya Rose. Sophie Smith played huge as she prevented even the strongest of the Kamloops players from getting a look at the Kelowna goal. The weekend was a great display of the positional play and defensive strength that the girls have been working on all year. Kudos.
Kelowna United U12 Boys – Strikers
May 16-18th, 2015
1st Game: KU Strikers 1, Vernon 2
2nd Game: KU Strikers 3, EFS 2
3rd Game: KU Strikers 7, Williams Lake 2
4th Game: KU Strikers 4, Pemberton 0
The KU 12 Strikers attended at the 37th Annual KYSA Slurpee Cup during the May 16-18th long weekend in Kamloops. The Kelowna team provided an impressive performance winning three of the four games they played. In game one, the Strikers were defeated by Vernon by a score of 2-1 with the only goal being scored for Kelowna from Caeleb Schlachter on a penalty kick. In game two, the Strikers provided a strong performance against the Vancouver based European Football School by defeating them 3-2. Goals were scored by Jasper Walker (x2), and Caeleb Schlachter. As the weekend progressed, the Strikers’ offensive and defensive skills were exceptional. The Strikers defeated Williams Lake in game 3 by a score of 7-0, with goals from Jadin Sjoquist (x3), Jasper Walker (x3) and Caeleb Schlachter. Zach Shields recorded a shut out in goal for the Strikers. In the 4th game against Pemberton, the Strikers were again able to shut out their opponents, wining 4-0. The Strikers’ goal scorers were Jadin Sjoquist (x2) and Jasper Walker (x2), with a solid team effort by all players, including assists from Jordan Jensen and Caeleb Schlachter. Zach Shields was able to secure his second shut out of the tournament. After each game the opponents chose a player from Kelowna who they felt provided the best all around performance. The four players selected were Caeleb Schlachter, Alex Cronquist, Grayson Medwedew, and Jarvis Jurome.
pics: IMG_2212 [team photo at the end of the tournament]
IMG_2092.jpg [game against Pemberton – from left to right: Jarvis Jurome, Zach Shields, Jaden Sjoquist, Ethan Delicato and Alex Cronquist]
Kelowna United U12 Boys – Spartans
May 16-18th 2015
1st Game: KU Spartans 6, Kamloops 0
2nd Game: KU Spartans 4, Calgary Rangers 3
3rd Game: KU Spartans 4, Comox 4
4th Game: KU Spartans 7, Terrace 1
The KU Spartans had a great weekend on the fields in Kamloops at the Slurpee Cup. On Saturday they faced a Kamloops team and dominated the play with a 6-0 victory. Sunday they were up against two teams that challenged their skills under increased pressure. In the morning the Spartans demonstrated a strong passing game to edge the Calgary Rangers FC 4-3. That afternoon they faced Comox in another fast paced match, scoring in the final minute of play to finish in a 4-4 tie. Monday morning the Spartans concluded the tournament with a victory over Terrace 7-1. It was a great weekend of soccer and team building.
Kelowna United U11 Boys attended the Umbro Cup Challenge in South Surrey on the weekend.
Kelowna United U11 Boys – Fire
May 16-18th 2015
1st Game: KU Fire 1, TSS COPA 9
Under a cloudy sky, the boys started the tournament playing a strong local team. The opposition proved to be too much as the boys weren’t able to string passes together or stop their organized attack on the offense. Kyan Brown was able to score a goal in the second half but eventually it was the physicality and organization of our opponents that kept the ball in the defensive zone for most of the game. Ayrton Daniels and Grayson Skibington stood net for the game and did great against a lot of shots.
2nd Game: KU Fire 1, Killarney 1
It was a bright and sunny afternoon in Surrey for this match. The boys seemed to shake off their earlier game and built some momentum after Kyan Brown’s hard-working effort to squeak our lone goal into the net. Zack Moldovan stood net for the game and completed some amazing stops. Jovan Hayher also blocked many shots in front of the net. The midfield boys including Cheydan Ragoonaden, Wilson McRorie and Kyan Brown, shut down some strong offensive players. Shots on net included lots cross bars or narrow misses. The team worked hard offensively and defensively and treated this tie like a World Cup win.
3rd Game: KU Fire 1, BC Tigers 3
It was another sunny day for the Fire. Kyan Brown made a great shot, scoring the lone goal. The team showed a lot of hustle. Wilson McRorie had a goalie debut in the first half and Zach Moldovan took net in the second half. It was the most physical game yet. The boys had to muscle through a lot of challenges. Marcus Burden, Ayrton Daniels, Riley Woolfall and Grayson Skibington showed lots of hustle through the middle and out the sides.
4th Game: KU Fire 2, Chilliwack FC Selects 3
It was another beautiful day for soccer and our boys showcased all that they had learned over the weekend. They came out playing hard and getting more shots on net. Cain Lister scored two beautiful goals including a penalty kick. Ayrton Daniels, Luke Robertson and Wilson McRorie rotated through goal. This was our most exciting game of the tournament and included great hustle and more aggression than we had ever seen from this group.
