Goplen’s Drillers gave North Okanagan United a solid test as NOU prepares for the World Masters Games, Aug. 2-11 in Torino, Italy.
The teams generated plenty of scoring chances as they ran to a 1-1 draw in North Okanagan Women’s Soccer Association Masters Division play Tuesday night at Marshall Field #2.
Early in the second half, the 2-8-3 Drillers got on the board when Shelley Zupp carried the ball in from the corner and finished with a sharp-angle shot for her first tally of the season.
Goplen then missed on a penalty shot, and soon after, NOU’s (Lean) Lena Dean connected on a beautiful high shot from the top of the 18.
Strong performances and great team work were demonstrated by Goplen’s Krista MacGagno, Nancy Nickoli, Lisa Lanaway, Jodi Peshko and Kelly Megyesi, who is off to Italy with NOU (4-5-5).
The Seasons in the Okanagan Sistas led for the majority of play, but ran out of steam in an 8-7 goalfest loss to the Shuswap Kaos in Salmon Arm.
Fielding only 10 players, the Sistas gave up an own goal in the late going which, combined with the heat, finally drained them.
The 4-7-1 Kaos took a 2-0 lead before the 1-10-1 Sistas got on track as Tammy Buick ran onto a Kim Sylvester cross, one-timing it past the Shuswap keeper. Sylvester tied it as she wheeled in behind the Kaos back line to collect an Andrea Zubot lob over the last defender’s head. She finished with a high blast.
Sylvester’s second came on a sweet send-in from Krista Blankley, who was on fire at outside half, disrupting the Kaos offence and starting several chances for the green girls.
Lisa Geary finished with four goals, one a spectacular shot over Kaos keeper from 25 yards out, and another as she calmly slipped one by the onrushing tender.
Birthday girl Darlene Toews broke up a number of Kaos offensive forays, and Lesley Williams was solid as stopper. Newbie Jamie McLeod showed great instincts and a solid skill-set at outside defence, while U.S.-bound Keri Storey played well in sweeper position. Keeper Suzyn August was tough when challenging for the ball and made some great high saves.
The Longhorn Impact continued their stellar string of Masters play, icing the Chick Kickers 3-2 at Marshall Field #1.
Dawn Heiss got the 16-0 Impact rolling at the 20-minute mark after some back-and-forth play from both sides. Lauren Harris put a cross in to the front for Heiss to tap in.
Heather Findlay played relentless in the middle to set up chances for the forwards, and Harris and Janelle Smithson made numerous triangles to hammer the net, but were denied a number of times by terrific fingertip saves by Robyn Sherwood.
Longhorn’s second and third tallies came from veteran Vicky Ryan, her first being a lovely chip shot over the goalie.
The 5-3-4 Chicks scored after halftime to make it 2-1, and continued to press hard for the equalizer, but the Impact defence tightened up to suppress the Kicker forwards.
Playing under leg-draining heat in Salmon Arm, the Vernon Controllers overcame an early deficit to upend Shuswap Merlot 4-1.
Merlot (3-7-3) opened its account on a 30-yard blast from Lisa Woods from the right sideline.
The 7-7-1 Controllers, who are also bound for Italy, equalized when Jenny Currie sent Felicia O’Gorman in alone on a beautiful though ball, with O’Gorman solving Merlot keeper Caroline Goode.
Tied at the half, Sena Bishop cranked an Emma Louie offering off the keeper and Jenn Spitzer pounced on the rebound for the go ahead goal.
O’Gorman then returned the favour to her Co-Lady of the Match, sending a gorgeous ball to Currie, who raced in alone for the 3-1 goal. Recovering from a sprained ankle, Spitzer showed a nice touch in completing the offence.
The backline of Jody Pope, Brandie Hunter, Val Percy, Michelle Wernicke, and at times, Leslie Epp, were leaky to start but really tightened up later in the first half.
In Division 1 play Tuesday night, Little Tex Outlaws rebounded from last week’s loss to Dr. Lee’s Dental by bottling up Wrap Zone 6-0 at Marshall #4.
Monica Neilson and Maria Thorlaksen each pocketed a pair for Little Tex (6-2-5). Anita Rae booted a left-footer past the Wrap Zone tender after a nifty passing sequence with Brittany Davison and Toren Huntley. Davidson had the other goal.
Wrap Zone’s keeper did a great job stopping many shots as the Outlaws used her for shooting practice. Wrap Zone showed hustle all night as the dipped to 0-13.
Eilina Huiskin was the Outlaws’ Ladies of the Match, while Eileen Fox and Candace Lipski shared the shutout.
Dr. Lee’s and host Glenn Power Contracting played to a 2-2 draw under sweltering heat in Salmon Arm.
Leah Frye opened the scoring for the first-place floss crew (10-2-1) 20 minutes in, sliding in a rebound after Jennesa Moore tested the keeper from 25 yards out.
Tied 1-1, Jacquie Hansen set Moore up for another 25-yard blast which bounced off the hands of the keeper and in.
Late in the second half, Glenn Power (5-5-3) tied the game off a corner kick as Lisa Arrotta just missed the shot off her fingertips.
Frosty Lady of the Match Arrotta made several big stops in the second half.
The North Enderby Timber Celtics grounded the AF Blazers 4-1 Tuesday at Marshall #5.
The Celtics (7-4-2) went up 1-0 when veteran Debbie Henderson stole the ball from a Blazer forward and started a passing series with Tori Reid and Carly Smith, capped by university star player Paige Doherty.
Hailey Woon countered for the 5-6-2 AF Blazers, who controlled most of the play up to the halftime whistle.
After the intermission, Jenn Siegmueller wheeled up the right side and crossed one to the middle where Heidi Holtmann set up Carly Smith for a left-footer from 20 yards out.
Smith powerfully headed a rebound for her second goal, just beating keeper Katie Hatten. Doherty fooled Hatten on a 1-on-1 for the final goal.
