The Thompson Okanagan FC U13 girls played to a 2-2 draw with Coastal on Sunday in B.C. Soccer Premier League action.
A game of two halves, set against a backdrop of stormy rainclouds, saw Coastal dominate the first half with slick movement and passing. Notwithstanding, against the run of play, Sophia Seibel (Kamloops) capitalized on a slip from a coastal central defender to sprint to the edge of the box and execute a crisp shot into the left hand corner, giving TOFC an early 10th minute lead.
The goal only served to motivate Coastal further and they proceeded to camp in TOFC’s half until the break. In the 33rd and 35th minutes their pressure finally told and they were able to capitalize on defensive errors, taking a deserved 2-1 half-time lead.
Cometh the sunshine, cometh TOFC. Whatever was said at halftime worked, as the TOFC midfield was able to control the game there-after.
The equalizing goal came in the 62nd minute. Skye Neale (Lake Country)won the ball in the midfield, dispatched Jesse Large who’s powerfully and mazy run down the right flank drew a foul in the box, with the resulting penalty dispatched by Melaina Corrado (Kelowna) to level the score.
Late chances fell to TOFC who deserved victory. A powerful free kick from Skye Neale (Lake Country) narrowly missed the right hand post with the goal keeper stranded in the 65th minute and at the death Ally Foster (Kelowna) rounded two players and the goal keeper before missing under pressure from the last desperate Coastal defender.
Coastal happily left with a 2-2 draw which leaves TOFC needing just one point against Surrey on Nov. 1 to finish top of the league.
In other games for TOFC:
TOFC intake boys 1 Coastal FC 4
TOFC U13 boys 3 Coastal FC 1
TOFC u14 boys 3 Coastal FC 2
TOFC u17 boys 1 Coastal 0
TOFC Intake girls 0 Coastal FC 1
TOFC u14 girls 0 Coastal 2
