Injuries took a toll on the Kalamalka Lakers at the B.C. Senior AA Girls Soccer Championships in Courtenay.
Playing with a banged-up lineup, Kal bowed 6-0 to the Nanaimo District Islanders in their final pool game Friday morning, and then fell 3-1 to the Seycove Community Seyhawks of North Vancouver in their playoff opener that afternoon.
Injuries forced Kal coach Derrick Parmelee to tweak his lineup, which resulted in girls filling in at unfamiliar positions.
Playing with a broken nose suffered earlier in the tournament, Kal’s Julia Kemper was fearless in net against Nanaimo, but had to leave the game after a collision in the crease. Megan Squair stepped up and played goal for the remainder of the game.
The Lakers played hard but couldn’t capitalize against Nanaimo. Paige Ralston and Teigan Moore had strong games in the midfield.
Kal scored first against the defending B.C. champion Seyhawks on a corner by Moore that was headed in by Ralston.
Seycove equalized shortly after and went ahead just before halftime. They scored again in the final minute. Emma Tassie was Kal’s player of the game.
The Lakers opened the tourney Thursday with a 2-1 loss to the Surrey Christian Falcons.
Kal trailed after 10 minutes when Surrey converted on a goal-mouth scramble after a missed offside call. Later in the half, the Falcons deflected a shot off a Kal defender to take a 2-0 lead into the break.
The Lakers came out with a better effort in the second half and were rewarded with a goal by Tassie, assisted by Moore.
Kal fell 3-1 to the Little Flower Academy Angels of Vancouver in their second tilt, again falling behind early on a questionable non-offside call.
Kal pressed hard and equalized in the second half on a goal by Ralston, assisted by Nicole Williams. Little Flower went ahead for good after a corner kick, and then sealed the win with a nice give-and-go play.
Emily Thorlakson did well as a first-time sweeper, while Kaelyn Parmelee, Moore and Kaely Johnson had strong games in the midfield.
