The fine show of soccer sportsmanship turned into a fun-filled, one-sided water balloon battle afterwards. The teams posed for a group photo before leaving the park with medals.
It was youth soccer at its finest with the H&R Block Orange Creamsicles brushing back the Nixon Wenger Voltage 2-0 for the gold.
Hana Ogasawara scored for H&R Block midway through the first half, while Gabby Edblad added another before the end of the half. Rick Ogasawara coached the champions.
The Voltage, who came prepared with water balloons on a scorching day, responded hard in the second half but couldn’t capitalize on their chances.
Paige Hason and Jenica Camalush led the Voltage in scoring in seasonal play, and Taylor Gray was awarded team MVP. Dave Bootsma coached the Voltage.
Subway Green, coached by Erica August and Sheldon Aldrich, took bronze medals.
The Greens had an excellent tournament after a fifth-place ranking. They lost 1-0 to H&R Block in a shootout, and shut down Caufield Engraving 2-0.
Amy Parsons scored on a high shot for the winner versus Caufield, while Marissa Aldrich added insurance after fighting hard in the six-yard box.
“Our defensive line of Desiree Gosselin, Faren Gosselin, Michelle Ockert, Halle August, Milana Ivanoff and Hana Whibley was solid all weekend,” said coach August.
“Once again, midfielders Cailin Correia and Danielle Butler were outstanding with footwork and passing. Wingers Sierra Benner, Ania Splawinski, Alicia Hill-Turner, Anna Cherkowski, Ella Kerr and Kyla Perry hustled hard on offence and defence and Darian Newman had some super saves.”
The U14/15 Subway Red Bulls went undefeated to claim gold, opening with a 2-1 win over Navy.
The Red Bulls, coached by Leon Medema and Blaine Martian, showed incredible defence and got goals from Brianna Falk and Saylor Martian.
Kaitlyn Morgan in net, and Ellen Megaw, Clare Schmidt, Katya Viskari and Samantha Myers anchoring the back line, shut down Navy for most of the game. Martian put the Bulls ahead to stay on a solid outside run.
The Red Bulls went on to defeat White, Orange and Gold by identical 4-1 scores.
“We were really proud of the team effort, passing and defensive play,” said coach Medema. “Clare Thiessen, Talia Matties, Sarah Mugridge and Ava Cornell were all excellent at midfield and Anika Haberstock ran miles at striker. Special mention goes to Sammie Scully for leading the team in scoring for the final four matches, always a danger to score from the striker position. Unfortunately, Piper MacWilliams and Emily Medema were unable to attend the last games due to sickness.”
Team Orange, coached by Terry Petersen, took the silver. Mike Bertram’s Navy bagged bronze.
The White Knights turned a fourth-place regular season into Cup gold with three wins last weekend.
Central midfielder Yididiya Bunn scored twice and set up Kyle Karens for a header goal just 90 seconds in as the Knights grounded the surprising Team Green 5-0 Sunday morning at Marshall #2.
Bunn, the game MVP, netted the goal of the weekend when he took a short pass from Cooper McGeough and busted through three defenders on a 30-yard run before burying a corker, making it 4-0 in the 28th minute.
Brendan Horsfield, on a scramble off a corner, at eight minutes, and Reece Hawthorne, on a sweet feed by Karens, completed the offence in front of Nick Mitchell.
The Greens, coached by Geoff Cooke and Gord Cheyne, went winless in the regular season but 2-1-1 in the Cup for bronze.
The Knights held off the Reds 2-1 Saturday afternoon at MacDonald Park.
Riley Davis put the Reds up in the sixth minute, swiping a back pass and beating Mitchell in a heavy collision.
Karens equalized at 28 minutes after a corner by game MVP Mexico’s Andre Soto Alvarez. Hawthorne registered the winner, going bottom left corner in the 32nd minute. Tireless Gavin Donald and the highly skilled Soto Alvarez anchored the Knights’ back line.
The Knights, who stopped Navy 3-2 Friday night, were coached by Kevin Mitchell and Rob Donald.
Todd Wenger and Jeff Huggins coached the silver-medalist Reds, who shaded Green 2-1 win Sunday afternoon. Reid Botwood started the scoring for the Reds with a excellent shot from outside the 18. Dynamic defensive play came from Jayden Banner, Wilson Stewart, Mitchell Alexander. Seb Wenger and Langton Kersey created several scoring chances.
David Park took the a penalty kick in the final minute and buried his own rebound after a big diving save by Joel Vandeleest as the Reds tied Orange 3-3 Sunday morning.
Brendan Whitmore and Kenzel Aarts-Roman, on a rebound of a Whitmore shot, counted the Reds’ opening goals. Chris Aldridge and Liam Hennig enjoyed solid showings.
Carter Bosquet, Cole Martin and Steven Benischek, with the goal of the match on a 35-yard corker, replied for Orange, who got marvellous showings from Leon Schenker and Gaman Niijar.
Navy clipped the Orange Dudes 2-1 in their last game Sunday afternoon. Shane Pelkey scored first for the Dudes, while Spencer O’Neill levelled the score after a series of passes with Kevin Schilter. Rylan Brown produced the winner with two minutes remaining.
In U13 boys Cup action, the Gold Rush won one game and drew two others for gold, ending a superb 8-0-4 season.
Coach Todd Strilchuk gave major props to Liam Bush, who normally patrols centre midfield, but nearly broke his toe the week leading up to the tournament.
“Not wanting to miss out on the action, he agreed to try playing in net and played full-time goalie for all three games, and only let in two goals,” said Strilchuk. “By game two, he was even dropkicking the ball with his sore foot and fighting through the pain.”
The Gold Rush and silver-medalist Team White, coached by Shane Haner, battled back and forth to a scoreless draw Sunday with Lucas Wood and Tyson Hoyland bold on the Gold back line.
In other Sunday play, the Gold Rush shaded the Red Tornadoes 2-1 as Liam (Archie) Cooper supplied both goals.
A clearing shot by the Reds bounced in off Cooper’s backside, while the Reds equalized five minutes later. With 10 minutes left in the game, Lucas Wood took a corner and planted the ball right on the foot of Cooper for the winner.
The Gold Rush and Navy drew 1-1 Saturday with Navy scoring in the 40th minute and Tanner Wright equalizing in the final five minutes.
In U12 girls play, the Blizzards bagged a 1-1 draw with the Navy.
Unrelentless energy from Joelle Smid inspired the Blizzards to push hard, while strikers Jennika Helmle and Savannah Jodoin kepot the keeper active.
Midfielders Lauren Rollier and Taija Kronbauer flexed their power with monster kicks to keep the ball in the oppostion end.
Lottie Scott took control of the ball down the sideline with authority and pocketed a top-shelf goal.
Taylor Holcroft made continuous runs up the right flanks, challenging defenders with her skill and speed. Rachel Richter and Lisa DeBeer were bold on the back line, while Kelsey Watts played high sweeper defence while delivering powerhouse corners and long throw-ins.
Katelyn Holm, wearing Italian keeper attire, challenged hard and sent strong drop kicks to her midfielders.
The Gold Armadillos bounced the Reds 7-0 to end the U12 boys year at 8-0-1.
Jared Ross posted his fifth clean sheet of the season and the Dillos got offence from Tage Kineshanko (2), Connor Seahaver (2), Aiden Buckley, Griffin Fletcher and Ben Harrop. Assists were turned in by Sam Moore, Rory Campbell, Zach Manthorne and Travis Towers.
The Royal Lepage Red Hot Chili Peppers capped an amazing season by stopping Navy Narwals 3-0 in U11 boys play, their sixth shutout in nine games.
Keaton Dick opened the offence at 27 minutes, while Travis Hemsing found the net twice at 46 and 57 minutes.
