Morning Star Staff
The Vernon Square Liquor Store VQA iced the Controllers 2-0 to open the North Okanagan Women’s Soccer Association Masters season Tuesday night at MacDonald Park.
“Because it’s all about the Benn, bout the Benn, bout the Benn,” sang VQA captain Shelly Johnston, of veteran keeper Karen Benn.
Benn recorded several dazzling saves and delivered killer kicks all night after a standout weekend of rec hockey tourney action.
Johnston sent a hard ball up from the back line to the far left corner line for Harmony Crockett, who then fed midfielder Jenny Hatten, who in turn passed to Carly Bibby for an awesome tally. Crockett supplied the insurance goal on a penalty kick, awarded after a handball.
Newcomers Sue Mckinnon, Gail Atha, Vicki Ryan and Jenn Hatten were stellar and welcomed by all. Returnees Rita Tedesco and Lena Dean also enjoyed super showings.
The Controllers displayed a strong offence and several scoring opportunities without any luck. Melissa Hensen, Michelle Mercer and Jacquie Nuyens all enjoyed chances.
Michele Wernicke and Shelley Henry stepped up to share goalie duties. Val Percy and Brandie Hunter were bold on the back line, while Shawn Yargeau and Kelly Megyesi sparkled up the middle.
Jacquie Hansen and Barb Levesque each scored twice as Squires Four Pub stopped Seasons Sistas 4-1 at windy Marshall #3.
Lanis Kelley nailed a shot, low corner, from a pass from roadrunner Dianne Neudorf, to put the Sistas up 1-0 at the break. Newbie Debra Rosher jumpstarted the play off a free kick.
Hansen equalized with Levesque assisting in her debut with Squires. Mary Anne DeFoor then fed Hansen, who dished a nice short pass to Levesque for the winner.
Hansen kept Squires – coached by Mayor Akbal Mund – rolling with a great solo effort for the 3-0 snipe. Deanna Baker placed a sweet corner in the box and Levesque headed the ball in for further insurance. DeFoor and Carolyn Gustafson also wore a Squires jersey for the first time and excelled.
The Sistas’ defenve, anchored by Dani Moffat, stymied several Squires’ attacks. Trista Bassett and Mel Skinner shook off first-game jitters and calmly made passes and cleared balls.
Neudorf just failed to finish with some creativity on a few breakaways.
Sistas’ keeper Wendy Nadeau made numerous amazing saves, including one late beauty which appeared to be a sure goal.
Newly acquired Alanna Young scored in the fifth minute off of a designed corner as the North Enderby Celtics shut out Little Tex Outlaws 1-0 in Division 1 play at Marshall #5.
Celtics’ star rookie Casey Benz delivered a perfect short post corner to find towering Samantha Adam, who flicked the ball onto Young, who calmly brought the ball down inside the box to sidestep a defender and hammer the ball top shelf.
The veteran back line of Carly smith, Ashley Krause Heidi Holtmann and Deb Henderson showed no mercy by shutting down most of the Outlaw attack. Meghan Smith recorded the shutout.
Gray Monk Longhorn Impact brushed back Rosters 2-0 at MacDonald Park.
Roadrunner Edeen Yamada delivered the winner on a hard-fought play. Solid midfield distribution by newcomer Yvonne Rogers enabled midfielder Kim Weibe to deliver her signature cross time and time again.
Alicia McCreary solidified things with a tap in goal.
Peacock Sheridan Group Reds, formerly of the Kelowna first division, dispatched Do It Drywall 9-0 in Division 1 play at Marshall Field #4.
Lindsey Briggs bagged five goals for the Reds, while Lana Finley rang up a deuce and singles went to Cheyenne Dedla and Jenna Cole.
Cole registered the goal of the game, smashing a header from a Melissa Ibbotson corner. Jenn Knourek posted the shutout.
