Riley Spraggs will play wing or centre in college hockey in Oklahoma this fall.
Until then, he’s making a name for himself as a pretty decent keeper with Concept Physio of the North Okanagan Soccer League.
The 21-year-old was the Okanagan Training Rink Man of the Match as he led last-place Concept to an exciting 2-2 draw with second-place North Enderby Timber Wednesday night at Marshall Field #4.
The game was back and forth with both teams trading chances in the first half. NET forced Spraggs to make some spectacular saves to keep Concept in the game and the Physio crew used that momentum to take the lead late in the first half on a goal by Fabrice N’Dair who headed home a deflection off NET keeper Brent Paulsen.
NET (5-2-2) came out very hard in the second half and made it 2-1 quickly on goals by striker Brandon Enair (Aclis Apparel Man of the Match), but Concept tightened up the defence and started putting the pressure on NET.
Both keepers were tested and Concept (0-6-2) equalized on a penalty shot by Axel Chinyanata, awarded when Sean Lister was called for a foul off a corner.
Both Spraggs and Paulsen were solid in the final 20 minutes with Spraggs making the saves of the year on Danny Stein from ‘gimme’ range. The first save was inside the six-yard box and Spraggs laid out to stop a point blank shot and then the rebound landed right on Stein’s foot, and Spraggs scrambled to get his hand on that shot too, deflecting it wide of the net.
Meanwhile, Turn-Key Controls FC returned to action after a two-week, rain-induced hiatus and grounded Davidson & Co. Dynamite 4-2 at Marshall #2.
Struggling to score goals before the break, Turn-Key used a big first half as they improved to 5-3. Having plenty of time to practise and watch Euro 2012, Turn-Key switched up their forward lines placing Andrew Pool and Nathan Tucker with incumbent Conan Ackert and were rewarded with all four forwards scoring goals.
Tucker opened the scoring early in the first half on a well-placed, left-footed strike that beat Davidson keeper Ean Ross.
Turn-Key held the majority of possession early on and defender Kyle Goodgrove led the rush and found Pool, who made no mistake putting Turn-Key back up 2-1 after a Davidson goal.
Shortly before the half, Ackert used his large frame to strip Ross of the ball in the six-yard box before putting the ball away for a 3-1 lead.
The Dynamite (2-5-2) came out with a renewed sense of urgency in the second half and neither side could break through until a beautiful bicycle kick goal by the Nitros made it 3-2.
Nolan’s Pharmasave Man of the Match Pool put Turn-Key up for good shortly after when he buried a well-struck ball from 20 yards just under the crossbar.
Monashee Surveying of Vernon played some inspired soccer in tying league-leading Salmon Arm Courvas 2-2 at Marshall #1.
Strong play by Monashee kept Courvas (6-0-1) closed down early until against the play, Courvas scored on a chipping long ball that fooled keeper Rodney Goodchild.
Monashee (3-2-3) equalized off a key defensive stop by Ryan Sharp. Sharp’s long shot was bobbled by the Courvas keeper and rookie superstar Daniel Lutsenko finished top corner.
Monashee surprised the NOSL world by going up 2-1 off another stellar ball by Sharp which the keeper dropped. Alberto Lopez took control of the loose ball and finished off with some fancy feet.
Courvas evened the score minutes later after a defensive miscue. After some hard work by Monashee kept Courvas pinned in their zone, Monashee were awarded a late PK late. Devon Marriot stepped up and was stoned by the keeper.
Goodchild, a stand-in, was a standout with some killer saves all night, including one off the line.
The whole Monashee team shared Pizza Hut Man of the Match.
A game scheduled between the Hi-Pro Camels FC and Revelstoke Stallions was postponed due to wet fields in Revelstoke.
