Mark another accomplishment off the board for the Langley United Premier men’s soccer team.
The squad had already won the Fraser Valley Soccer League title thanks to a 13-4-4.
And now it can add the Pakenham Cup title to their mantle.
They won the prestigious Cup thanks to a 2-0 victory over Abbotsford United on Sunday in Port Moody.
The Cup was first presented back in 1909. There was no competition from 1915 to 1920 during the First World War or from 1928 to 1947 when the Cup was lost.
“It was probably the best I have seen us play system-wise and shape,” said Langley coach Rob Keam.
“We were terrific defensively. I was pleased for the guys. We have worked hard on our shape and they really responded in that game.”
This was the team’s third Pakenham Cup in the past five years as they also won the title in both 2012 and 2014.
In Sunday’s championship final, Langley scored a goal in each half.
About 30 minutes in, Jarvis Ambaka got his head on a Mike Perry corner kick to the near post to open the scoring.
“It was a fantastic set piece,” Keam said.
Langley doubled the lead in the 70th minute on the counter-attack as Bryce Wipp sent a ball through to Devon Gilroy to put in him all alone on the Abbotsford keeper.
Gilroy, named player of the game, converted on the chance and Langley had some breathing room.
“Abbotsford played well. They had some good spells of possession but we played really well defensively and didn’t really give them too many chances,” Keam said.
The coach said that 11 of his players won the Cup for the first time.
“We are kind of transitioning and changing all the time,” he said.
And that is one of the strengths of the squad, the fact the older, veteran players have done a good job of incorporating some of the younger players.
In Langley’s other Pakenham Cup games, two of the three victories were one-sided.
They defeated Coastal FC United 5-0 in the round of 16 and hammered Aldergrove United 6-0 in the semifinals.
Langley got a scare in the quarter-finals as they needed penalty kicks to prevail 2-1 over PMO Rangers FC.
Up next for the team is Provincial Cup play.
Langley United will host Aldergrove United in the round of 16 on the weekend of April 22.
The date and time will be determined shortly.
“Winning the league and the Pakenham Cup were two of our goals,” Keam said.
“(Now) our goal is to go as far as we can in the Provincial Cup.”
