The Vernon United Under 14 girls are the best in B.C.
They proved that by winning the Provincial B Cup Soccer Championships Sunday at Inter River Park in North Vancouver.
United brushed back Langley FC 2-1 in the final, with Cayleigh Graham providing the winner.
With Vernon up 2-0, Langley pulled within a goal, and nearly tied the game late if not for the heroics of Vernon keeper Marina Dempsey.
“Marina made an incredible save in the dying seconds,” said Michelle Hughes, who coaches the team with husband John Hughes. “I could have kissed her.
“It was another hard-fought game that was a total team effort. We are so lucky to have 15 MVPs.”
Vernon went undefeated in the tournament, opening with a 7-0 win over Bulkley Valley from the North Coast. United then defeated Chilliwack 3-1 in what Hughes described as a “physical game, pretty intense.”
Goals came from Ashley Glinsbockel, Abbey Hughes and Alex Drury, all off of set plays.
United closed out round-robin play with a 2-1 win over North Vancouver.
Among the off-field highlights for United was some retail therapy after the intense win over Chilliwack, as well as the Vancouver Whitecaps’ 2-0 MLS win over Seattle Sounders at a sold-out B.C. Place Saturday night.
Other members of the B.C. champion crew include April Fletcher, Millie Harron, Nina Ogasawara, Emily Clarke, Madison Findley-Proctor, McKenna McWillis, Maddie Catt, McKenna Southam, Sheyan Camalush, Jaime Grages, Emma Nesbitt and Ailish Curran.
Both the United U15 and U13 squads bowed in the bronze-medal game in their respective divisions.
The U15 side fell in penalty shots to Tsawwassen after finishing regulation in a scoreless draw.
Overtime solved nothing as neither team gave an inch. In the shootout, Vernon keeper Jordynne Tomiak was cool as a cucumber in making some huge saves, but after five shooters, Tsawwassen edged United by one goal.
Both teams came out super focused, resulting in some thrilling end-to-end action. Alexa Tymkiw came the closest to scoring for Vernon as she put one off the post.
United held the edge in play in the second half, but couldn’t find the back of the net.
Brett Bandy’s U15 crew earned its way to the bronze-medal game by dousing the Squamish Fireballs 4-1 Saturday.
The United girls thanks the coaching staff of Bandy, Carli Tingstad and Jenny Robertson for a job well done.
The United U13 girls fell 1-0 to the Chilliwack Attack in their bronze-medal tilt Sunday.
Vernon, coached by Al Gee, Rick Latta and Ley Christensen, went 1-1-1 in pool play, finishing with a 2-2 draw against the North Shore Vipers Saturday.
The girls competed hard all weekend.
