Morning Star Staff
Vernon United Tolko/Temptasian/Apple Auto Glass Whites brushed off the Kamloops Blaze 3-2 in Thompson Okanagan Under 12 Girls Rep Soccer League play Sunday.
Kendall McKinnon jumpstared the Vernon offence at two minutes and the Whites kept pressuring with repeated shots by Mya Robinson and Sophie Dennis.
Robinson’s penalty shot in the final seconds of the half sailed past the Kamloops goalie to make it 2-0.
Keeper Shaila Austin remained solid in net throughout the second half not letting anything through until the last 10 minutes when Kamloops scored twice.
Robinson delivered the win with a textbook goal in the dying minutes.
The Whites then dispatched the Shuswap Selects 4-2 sparked by the firing squad of Skylee Sigurdson-Poirier, Keira Dail, Georgia Wenger and Dennis.
Shuswap got an awkward goal midway through the first half, but Wenger answered back minutes later. In the second half, Brooklyn Kineshanko got in on the barrage of shots, and burned one past the keeper. Shuswap scored again, but Dail came back at them with two goals in the space of five minutes.
Tolko United U13 Girls clipped Kelowna 2-1 under sun-kissed skies Sunday afternoon.
It was a relatively uneventful first half which saw both teams struggle to move the ball effectively through the midfield.
It was a very different second half, however, as Vernon used aggressive play in the back field from Alex Murphy, Sarah Boyd and Olivia Johnson to earn some chances up front.
Brooklyn Routley took a lead pass from Francesca Durfield, split the defence, left them for mannequins and launched a torpedo from the top of the box for the lead.
Kelowna later equalized, but Vernon ramped things up play again. Speed and intensity from Jordyn Morris set up a direct free kick for Kassidy Schaper-Kotter, who buried a 10-yard corker for the winner.
United Tolko AIL MSE Precast U12 Blues started their doubleheader with a 5-0 win over Shuswap with Mia Maltman marvellous in net.
Vernon opened their attack with a clever throw-in interception by Ashleigh Mulholland, finished with a quick one-timer from the side of the net by Kaiden Sherwood.
Mia Hyer made it 2-0 on a lovely assist by Sherwood. Jordyn Kisilevich started the second-half scoring with a breakaway from the centre line, bringing it upfield and connecting with a left-footed blast.
Jorja Catt buried a soaring kick from right midfield, assisted by Jaya Chauhan. The two players then reversed roles, with Catt feeding Chauhan, who brought it home with a smooth, confident strike.
Madison Bergman played an outstanding defensive game, combining excellent throw-ins with solid blocks and turns.
In Game 2, the Blues failed on plenty of chances in a 2-0 loss to the Kamloops Blaze Orange.
Tolko United U14 Girls showed grit and stamina as they fell 3-1 to Kelowna and 2-1 to Shuswap.
With one third of their regular roster absent due to a conflicting sporting event, Vernon summoned four players from the U13s and controlled the first 15 minutes possession Sunday at Parkinson Field.
A Vernon handball triggered a direct penalty shot initially blocked by keeper Summer Crosby, but Kelowna knocked in the rebound.
At 20 minutes, keeper Summer Crosby took a foot in the upper body and was replaced by Olivia Tymkiw who normally plays midfield. Shortly afterwards, a defensive breakdown allowed Kelowna to mark their second goal. A third Kelowna snipe followed at 38 minutes.
Vernon pressed in the second half with Crosby back and holding possession with their U13 fill-ins: Kate McIntosh, Brooklyn Routley, Clare Bancroft and Abigail King.
A solid defensive line from Lanaya Bandy, Tymkiw and Ashley Montgomery kept Kelowna scoreless in the second half. Vernon finally scored at 60 minutes when Sidney Wilson converted on a PK after she was pulled down.
United held a majority of first-half possession with Bandy, Tymkiw and Keara Korberg shiningon the back line.
Alexia Gavin-Nice and Mekedes Bunn peppered Shuswap’s net with some dangerous shots.
At 30 minutes, a shot from Gauvin-Nice was blocked by the Shuswap keeper with Grace An hammering the rebound for Vernon’s first goal. A defensive slip late in the first half allowed Shuswap to tie the match.
Bunn and Hyla Wilford showcased their fitness and U13 fill-in, Jordyn Morris, stepped up to support the midfield. However, Shuswap finally converted on a free kick.
In U11 Girls play, the Vernon Blasters split a pair in Kelowna, losing 5-3 to the Revelstoke Avalanche and rallying for a 3-2 win over Kamloops Blaze. Makenna Jackson scored twice versus Revelstoke.
In the second game, Kristin Francks was on fire, scoring all three goals for Vernon. Keeper Naomi King was superb, while dynamite defence came from Ashlee Befus and Jordan Tung.
The Tolko Strikers tied both of their U11 Girls games in Kelowna, battling Kamloops to a 2-2 draw in their opener.
Kamloops led 1-0 at half and then the Strikers took control with Clara Meyer collecting an Anna Hirschkorn through ball down the right flank and scoring near side.
The Strikers then took the lead when Kirsten Brown converted a Hirschkorn corner from six yards out. Kamloops tied it moments later. Jessica Bond and Joelle Kohtala were marvellous on defence, while Aimee Skinner made several key saves to preserve the tie.
In Game 2, the Strikers and Revelstoke ran to a scoreless draw with Lauren Hoard in net.
Hirschkorn struck the crossbar, while Adelynn Heyes, Caryss Hill, Skinner and Sophia Bilodeau also had several scoring chances.
