Morning Star Staff
A stifling hot Sunday brought out the best in the Vernon Tolko United as they surprised the Kamloops Blaze 4-2 in Thompson Okanagan Under 13 Rep Soccer League play at McArthur Island Sports Centre.
Kamloops (4-3-1) scored in the third minute, but just 10 minutes later, Chris Reinhardt delivered a great cross off a corner and Justin Russell headed in the equalizer.
Vernon (1-6-1) kept pressing with a stellar possession game and with just minutes left in the first half, Ronac Chauhan fed Ronan Bedard in tight for the go-ahead tally.
United came out strong in the final 35 minutes despite the 35-degree heat, with Reinhardt burying a free kick for the 3-1 goal.
Kamloops answered right back on another corner with Austin Amani adding insurance for Vernon.
Clutch defensive/midfield play was turned in by Cole Ogasawara, Ty Bartel, Ethan Greenan, and Quinn Soon.
“This was the result of the last six months of hard work by these boys,” said Vernon coach Rick Ogasawara.
The Vernon United U18 Boys bounced Kelowna U17s 3-1 Sunday at Marshall Field #4.
Gavin Mason, Mees Geelkerken and Mika DeVin recorded the United goals.
Centre back James Huntington and right fullback Wyatt Carter enjoyed splendid showings for Dennis Berg’s bunch. Vernon improved to 5-2-5.
In U14 Boys play, Vernon and host Kamloops ran to a scoreless draw Sunday at scorching McArthur Island Sports Centre.
Josh McKeown, Tage Kineshanko, Matthew Reich and keeper Jared Ross had marvellous showings.
Pinnacles hold back U15s in Penticton
United U15 Boys suffered a gritty 3-1 loss to the host Penticton Pinnacles.
Keeper Jared Jameson delivered top-form by repeatedly frustrating Pinnacles strikers, while dynamite defensive play was demonstrated by Oliver Meyer and Sean Boucher with able support from Gerrit Van Soest, Shea Soloway and Jaidyn Gordon-Mason, whose confidently placed foot rejected a low, corner bullet on the goal-line.
The determined Pinnacles finally succeeded in jumpstarting the scoring at 25 minutes, sending a loose rebound to the back of the net.
United answered nine minutes later when Ian Oliphant sent a right-flank feed to Jacob Baycroft, who deftly carried the ball deep before a waiting Michael Lapp converted. Penticton netted the winner off a corner and added insurance shortly after. Solid shots were fired by forwards Will Denny, Bryan Brew and Reilly Johnson as Vernon fought back.
United U12s register win, draw in Revelstoke
In U12 play, United teams played Kelowna teams in their double-headers Sunday in Revelstoke.
Tolko Team C earned a 5-5 draw with Kelowna B before clipping Kelowna R 2-1.
Cash Anderson and Jonah Violini each scored two goals in the tie with Ben Straight registering the fifth go-ahead goal. Kelowna tied it late.
Aidan Winn played a stellar match, fronted by Liam Collins and Marcus Petersen.
In the second game, Jared Eddy took on keeper duties and Anderson tallied his third for the day on a snipe from Declan Hardy. Daxton Podollan and Zach Loland continued the pressure in the Kelowna end.
Tate Garrod and Marcus Erho drilled many attempts but it was Hardy who broke the tie with seconds left.
Tolko Team S lost 6-1 to Kelowna G and then fell 5-3 to Kelowna A.
Vernon was first on the sheet in Game 1 with a great drive from Owen Challen, assisted by Carter Leahy.
In Game two, Fraser Christensen capitalized on a penalty kick supported by Roan Reid and Danny McLennan. Landon Janke scored and Colby McManaman set up Nick Noren for Vernon’s last goal in the second half.
Christensen took over the gloves in the second half where Landon Janke scored and Colby McManaman set up Nick Noren for Vernon’s last goal.
The Venom U11 Boys, under the fine coaching of Kevin O’Connor and Brad Donison, fell 5-2 to Kelowna D and lost 5-2 to Kamloops T.
Kelowna scored first but Vernon quickly followed with a goal from Mitchell Bond, assisted by Jentezen Peterson.
Strong defensive play came from Luca Ariano, Kaden O’Connor and Joshua Mark. Bond scored another before the break with Mac Sorochuk taking over in net abd recording some amazing saves.
Evan Sadesky posted numerous amazing saves in the first half versus Kamloops, while Sorochuk did likewise as keeper in the second half.
Strong forward lines of Henry Routley, Hayden Murphy, Logan Stewart and Josh Donison kept the action tense with goals in the second half by Bond (assisted by Rowan Smith) and Peterson.
North Okanagan Youth Soccer Sssociation Rerp teams gave one week of action left before the regional playdowns.
