Ashton Kamaryk and Tanner Lapp each scored twice as Vernon Tolko United grounded host Kelowna United 5-3 in Thompson Okanagan Under 14 Boys Rep Soccer League play Sunday.
Kelowna, who lost to Vernon at the Slurpee Cup in Kamloops three weeks ago, came out determined and scored in the 27th minute.
Just 10 minutes into the second half, Kamaryk took a left-foot corner with a beauty volley and Lapp nodded in the tying goal. Kelowna converted a lucky bounce past keeper Gage Stoll two minutes later.
Cole Ogasawara fed a great throw-in to Owen Davis, who crossed to Kamaryk for the 2-2 goal. Kelowna went ahead two minutes later on a corker, but Tolk equalized 60 seconds later when Lapp finished a cross from Kamaryk.
Chris Reinhardt sent a free kick to Kamaryk for the winner 14 minutes later. Vernon added insurance with two minutes left as Quinn Soon buried a slick pass from Justin Russell, who got the ball after a sweet touch by Davis.
Vernon receive stellar defensive efforts from Mark Hesketh and Josiah Falk
“Great ball movement, passing, and yes finally some finishing…slow start to the game and season, but if there is a time to peak it’s now.” said Tolko coach Rick Ogasawara.
United Tolko U11 Boys Team Nice played at Marshall Field Sunday in front of the home crowd for the first time this season.
With family members showing support, coach Jeff Nice said “the boys played hard and determined to impress their adoring fans.”
Vernon turned in a fabulous showing despite losing 3-0 to Kamloops Blaze and falling 3-2 to the Penticton Pinnacles
In Game 1 versus Kamloops, Team Nice faced an attacking opposing side and kept the game close trailing by a goal at the half.
William Russell started in goal and made some huge saves, while Dane Beaton, Alistair Meyer and Tristiano Dziedzic frustrated the Kamloops offence and denied their chances. The hard fought middle field battles were won by Jeffrey Curtis, Charlie Erickson, Thomas Nice, and Rylan Nadurak. Luka Romero and William Erickson made some excellent runs and challenged the Kamloops defence.
After a quick barbecue, the United boys were energized and started strong vs Penticton. Tolko was led by Meyer dominating the backfield, cleaning up any loose balls and making fantastic runs dribbling through several players. His finest run was finished with a hard shot that stunned the Penticton keeper for a top-class finish.
Penticton went in front 2-1 until Nadurak chased down a ball in midfield and hammered home a hard shot. Penticton got a lucky break in the final minute for the winner.
The Vernon United Tolko Strikers split their U12 Girls Rep soccer games Sunday in Penticton, losing 3-2 to Kamloops Blaze and dispatching Penticton Pinnacles 5-0 at Kings Park.
The Strikers took a 1-0 lead at six minutes versus Kamloops as Aimee Skinner sent a beautiful through ball to Kirsten Francks who converted from 14 yards.
Kamloops equalized eight minutes later and then took the lead on a penalty shot just prior to the half. The Blaze scored a third before Makenna Doyle ran on to a Jessica Bond throw-in and hit a laser to the bottom right post with two minutes left.
Kirsten Brown and Paige Cover were singled out for their efforts in midfield.
The Strikers scored early and often against the Pinnacles with Anna Hirschkorn finding Makenna Hamilton-Jackson in the middle of the pitch and Hamilton-Jackson unleashing a 30-yard howitzer that just dipped under the bar.
Francks made it 2-0 after taking a Bond feed and beating the keeper to the left side. Two minutes before the break, Hirschkorn set up Francks to make it 3-0.
Bond made a great through ball midway through the second half to Francks, who completed the hat trick on a breakaway. Four minutes later, Vernon completed the rout when Macy Blades redirected a Hirschkorn corner out of the air and into the right side of the net.
Ashley Befus and Doyle shared the shutout, while Clara Meyer, Befus and Amy Curtis had dynamic days on defence.
The Tolko U14 Girls bowed 1-0 to host Kamloops, where they head this weekend for regional playdowns.
Vernon had a lack of a first touch and good ball control in the opening half, but improved passing and teamwork gave the them several chances the rest of the way.
Stellar defensive efforts came from Sarah Boyd, Dylan Sidhu and Abigail King. At the other end, Morgan Boisvert, Brooklyn Routley and Sydney Torrie connected for several chances.
The United U12 Savages played two very inspired matches Sunday at Kings Park, battling Salmon Arm to a 1-1 draw before posting a gritty 2-1 win over the Kelowna Foresters.
Strong goal-tending from Jesse Mitchell and bold defensive play by Tori Maltman and Lauren Hoard anchored the Vernon back line against the Shuswap. Adelynn Heyes scored for Vernon on a gorgeous feed by Cassidy Bocking. Naomi King and Jordyn Clarke generated several quality scoring chances.
The afternoon match saw Hoard, Maltman, and Mitchell again rock stars defensively.
Maltman logged 55 minutes of turf time, halting the Kelowna forwards all afternoon. Heyes opened the scoring on a nifty feed by Clarke after some heavy offensive pressure by Chelsea Sladen. Kelowna answered just before the recess.
The Savages kept grinding and winning offensive zone battles until Aimee Skinner rifled a shot for the win. Hoard and Mitchell sparkled sharing goalkeeping duties.
The United Coldstream Lumber U13 Girls poured on the pressure from the opening kick against the Kelowna United Demolition and battled to a scoreless draw Sunday.
Multiple shots were fired by Skylee Sigurdson-Poirier, Mia Hyer, Ava Proctor and Georgia Wenger in the first half. Keeper Jordyn Kisilevich made a couple of stunning mid-air saves to keep Vernon in the game.
On defence, Emma Glasser and Paige Maleska won several 50-50 balls to keep play in the Kelowna end, allowing for an onslaught of chances in the second half from Kendall McKinnon, Proctor, Sarah Claeys, Brooklyn Kineshanko, Katrina Winstanley, Wenger and Hyer.
With Kisilevich hurt, Proctor donned the keeper gloves in a 3-1 loss to the Kamloops Blaze Orange.
Sigurdson-Poirier later took a turn in net and recorded multiple saves, while Proctor delivered a beautiful goal on a penalty shot.
The Coldstream Lumber crew lost 2-1 to Shuswap FC to end the regular season.
Winstanley and Sigurdson-Poirier were solid in sharing goalkeeper duties, while Madison Bergman scored on a swift long ball in the first half.
Shuswap went ahead late and Vernon was unable to equalize despite a penalty shot by Bergman and a great run and shot by Hyer.
