A pair of Vernon players helped the Thompson Okanagan FC Under 15 girls bag silver in the Premier Division of the Baker Blast Soccer Tournament in Bellingham.
Striker Caleigh Graham and keeper/winger Caleb Pope pocketed medals after the Okanagan lost 1-0 (3-2) in penalty kicks to the Rangers FC99 of Washington State. Graham scored once in PKs, while Pope made two saves.
The teams went scoreless through regulation and extra time.
The Okanagan clipped the Rangers 2-1 in preliminary play with Graham converting a breakaway.
In the semifinals, Pope scored once as the Okanagan shut out Tynecastle FC99 of Washington 2-0.
Meanwhile, the Vernon United U12 boys Selects ended the season at the Canada Day Tournament in Kelowna, going 3-1.
United opened with a gritty 2-1 win over Kelowna Red with Burger King Man of the Match Liam Glennon catching the Reds sleeping on a free kick and sniping a 25-yarder to tie things early in the second half.
Minutes later, Glennon flew down the wing and crossed a ball into the box where Saajan Klair capitalized.
Dawson Martian, Keegan Carmichael and Gavin Medema had great games and Logan Quibell was solid in net.
In the second game, the lads lost 2-0 to the determined Kelowna Whites, who went up 2-0 after 15 minutes.
Despite a better effort in the second half, Vernon could not capitalize on several opportunities and lost 2-0. Man of the Match Max Chirkoff, Kobe Grant and William Ordt-Bosman put in great efforts.
The boys rebounded Sunday by ambushing Rutland 3-1 with Red Robin Man of the Match Medema clicking early after a great feed from Carmichael.
Glennon put the next two in and the boys were up 3-0 at the half. Kevin Morgan exchanged his keeper jersey with Glennon to play wing an ddelivered a great ball to Medema to make it 4-0. Liam Reid smashed a 25-yard free kick and Martian buried the rebound to round out the scoring.
Jack Cotter, Aiden Skinner and Liam Reid enjoyed bold outings.
In their last game, Vernon grounded the Penticton Pinnacles 4-1.
United found the back of the net when Ordt-Bosman delivered on a Glennon cross. Ben Imrich put Vernon up 2-0 on a fantastic strike from outside the box. Glennon then put the boys up 3-0 at the half.
Penticton came out fighting in the second half and were rewarded to close the gap to 3-1, before Glennon struck again to ice the game.
Imrich, Aiden Skinner and Grant had strong games with Italian Kitchen Man of the Match being keeper Morgan.
Tournament MVP as chosen by head coach Paul Morgan, was Glennon.
