RIPTIDE MIDFIELDER CHARLIE Purcell goes on the attack against Surrey in Coastal Cup quarter-final action at Valley View field.

RIPTIDE MIDFIELDER CHARLIE Purcell goes on the attack against Surrey in Coastal Cup quarter-final action at Valley View field.

Riptide U14 boys advance to Coastal Cup semifinals

Upper Vancouver Island soccer squad hosts Richmond on April 13

Tanner Kempe

Special to the Record

This past Sunday, a clash of soccer teams converged on Valley View field in Courtenay when the Upper Vancouver Island Riptide hosted Surrey Central City Breakers in a U14 boys Coastal Cup quarter-final match.

During the first half, the game went back and forth, nobody could tell yet who was going to win, with only a few shots on the two keepers.  In the second half, Surrey put a beautiful shot past the Riptide keeper with only 10 minutes to go.

But the scoring wasn’t over. The Riptide don’t go down without a fight. With two minutes left, Tanner Kempe put the ball into the net from a cross – game tied!

That was the turning point in the game. The crowd was screaming, the cowbells were ringing and it felt amazing!

The referee’s whistle brought regulation time to a close and we had to go into overtime.  The first 10-minute half was a draw without many chances for either team. In the second half the Riptide’s energy was stronger, leading to Nicholas Mitchell’s beautiful shot from outside the 18-yard box. GOOOAAALLLLLLL!   The roars of the crowd were deafening – that was it! With a 2-1 win, Riptide are on the way to the Coastal Cup semifinals against Richmond, the #2-ranked team in the Lower Mainland Metro Select League.

That game will be played at home this Sunday with game time tentatively set for 2 p.m. at Valley View #1.

 

Tanner Kempe is a midfielder with the UVI Riptide.

 

 

Comox Valley Record