The Princess Margaret Mustangs girls soccer team defended its Nakusp tournament championship title on the weekend.
The Mustangs captured the 10-team event against the host Nakusp, winning 3-0 in a gritty matchup. The Mustangs attacked with speed from the outside with Sydney McKinlay, Madi Cook and Gillilan Kennedy challenging Nakusps’ outside defenders. Jasper Pankratz scored halfway through the first half. Taylor Corrie added a second goal on a penalty kick and Gillian Kennedy capped off the scoring with a beautiful volley on a cross from the corner.
Playing five games in 27 hours, the Mustangs didn’t allow a goal. The Mustangs accomplished the feat starting with just two subs and having none in the finals due to injury. The Mustangs opened against the Oliver Hornets and won 3-0 on goals by Pankratz and Taylor Corrie with two. In their second game of the day, the Mustangs faced Cranbrook’s Mt. Baker, a AAA school. The Mustangs had the better chances in the first half, Mt. Baker in the second half, but the stifling defence of Alyshia Coleman, Kendra Penner, Jess Castle and Lyndsey Selles along with keeper Shelby Rogers kept the Mustangs in the game, which ended in a scoreless draw after regulation. The Mustangs lost 5-4 in penalty kicks.
Saturday morning was a must win against Trail’s JL Crowe, who defeated Mt. Baker earlier in the tournament. In perhaps their most complete game of the tourney, the Mustangs dominated from the midfield thanks to Corrie, Sierra Voeller, Vanessa Harris and Lauren Smith. The Mustangs managed to earn a 2-0 win on goals by Corrie as a result of hard work from Pankratz and Kennedy up front. Their final pool game came against Invermere. The first half was tight, with Corrie scoring from a beautiful pass back from Pankratz. Pankratz then exploded with three second-half goals leading to a 4-0 final.
The team will defend their two-year run of Okanagan Valley Championships next week in Kamloops. At the valley tournament, they will hope to qualify for the provincial championships in Vancouver and a chance to defend their provincial championship.
