The Fantastic Four could have used four more fantastic players.
As it was, the pink-clad Four fielded nine and put up a valiant effort before falling 3-1 to a full-squad OTC/Sunterra Sistas in North Okanagan Women’s Soccer Div. 2 action Thursday night in the heat at Marshall Field.
The Sistas opened the scoring midway through the opening half when Diane Neudorf carried the ball up the wing, crossing a pass to Andrea Zubot, who fed a through ball to Deanna Baker who beat Fantastic keeper Taylor Weixl with a hard shot just out of her reach.
In the second half, Fantastic Four was rewarded for all their hard work on the field, tying it up with a blast from Weixl outside the 18. Sistas keeper Wendy Nadeau got an A+ for effort as she got her foot on it. However, the ball kept right on going into the back of the net.
Baker, confirming her full recovery after a lengthy foot injury, collected Amanda Gaythorpe’s cross in the 18 and belted it past Fantastic’s second-half keeper Kris Ponto to get her second of the night.
Neudorf received a ball from Amy Fitchett, then worked it down the right wing, shooting high and hard for net. Ponto got her hand on it, deflecting it to the crossbar, then ricocheting off Ponto’s back into the goal.
Sistas defenders Becky Birbilis and Michelle Mulholland set the tone by making purposeful calm passing plays, both to keep the orange girls out of trouble and to start up several offensive attacks.
Arm and Hammer player of the game Gaythorpe had a strong game in midfield as she out-muscled and outmaneuvered the opposition, starting several offensive chances and setting up goals.
For the Fantastic Four, Weixl and Ponto were terrific in goal. Sylvie Richard worked the middle as stopper/sweeper/center all at once, with Richelle Seguin supporting that huge midfield as well.
Great game by Ruth Delisle at fullback with many great runs and challenges on Sistas forwards, keeping them outside and away from the net.
Said Ponto: “It was terrific work by all nine ladies – hard to play with no subs in the heat, never mind shorthanded.”
Both teams said it was a good game called by referee Cole Shumaker. Vernon Kal Tire FC got back to their winning ways Thursday.
No score was reported from the other game between the Green Rockets and Sir Winston’s Attack.
