The Little Tex Outlaws took over sole possession of first place by stuffing the North Enderby Timber Celtics 6-0 in North Okanagan Women’s Soccer Association Competitive Division play Tuesday night at Marshall Field #1.
The Outlaws (4-1) got some help from the AF Blazers, who battled the T.E.D. United of Salmon Arm to a scoreless draw. United is one point back of Little Tex at 3-0-2.
Monica Neilson scored twice for the Outlaws, including one off a through ball from Jen Kemper, who opened the offence on a breakaway.
Elaina Huisken got the second goal on a long ball outside the 18 that sailed in over the keeper’s head. Emily Corrie also clicked on a breakaway, beating the Celtic defence and missing on her first shot which was deflected by the keeper, and then outrunning the keeper to the ball and burying it.
Tracy Cyr, off a penalty kick, completed the Little Tex offence in front of a superb Lori Phillips.
The Outlaws’ defence was led by Jordan Mercer with Huisken and Kristy Anderson supplying stellar support. Stephanie Stewart enjoyed many runs down the wing and created several scoring opportunities with some beautiful crosses in front of the net. Kemper and Anita Rae were rock-solid in the midfield. The Celtics dipped to 1-4.
The Blazers (0-3-2) played shorthanded and pulled off a draw with United at Salmon Arm Savings & Credit Union Park.
Jane Higgins, Amber Maltman and Amanda Swales were outstanding on the back line, while Ally Cummings, Jenny Hatten, Carley Major and Chelsea Ricketts held the midfield.
Natalie Forster and Carissa Morneau had a few good scoring opportunities but were denied by the United keeper. Eileen Pellicca was phenomenal and made several key saves for the Blazers.
In Masters play, the first-place Vernon Chick Kickers shut down the Okanagan Impact 3-0 at Marshall #3.
Shauna Stenquist’s goal scoring foot returned from its hiatus as she converted the first goal from a Jen Sorochuck throw-in that was relayed from Michelle Johnson.
Youngster Jenny Garrett converted the second goal on a great cross in from the corner flag, while Johnson tallied the 5-0 Chicks’ final goal in the dying seconds.
The Chicks showed great formation with lots of tough battles in central midfield brought on by Colline Johnson , Wendy Martens and Tania Sladen. Once again, Dawn Tucker backstopped the Chicks with a shutout, while the back line of Nadine Krywonos, Marilynn Vanderdeen, Wendy Magnus, Monica Howbolski and Bridget Grant was superb.
The Impact (1-4-1) got great work by Vicki Ryan in the centre midfield and terrific goalkeeping by Wendy Ellis and Shelinda Morin, who replaced the injured Ellis in the second half.
Chilliwack product Denise Bourdon showed some great flashes of speed up front, while Kris Ponto chipped in all over the field.
The Tillicum Controllers (3-1-1) suffered their first defeat of the season, bowing 2-1 to Shuswap Merlot in a hard-fought battle at Marshall #2.
Starting with 10 players, the Controllers’ Emma Louie had a 30-yard blast go off the bar as both teams traded chances early.
Keeper Leslie Epp made a couple of great saves, but as time ran down in the first half, Merlot’s Carrie-Lee Lutz capitalized on a defensive miscue inside the six-yard box, leaving Epp with no chance.
Losing Louie and Therese Weber to injury in the first half, and with no subs, the Controllers found themselves down by two as Lutz, with her second, drove a 20 yarder into the bottom corner early in the second half.
Battling fatigue, the Controllers never quit and got one back as Danielle Dunsmore beat two defenders in close and fed Jacquie Nuyens, who shot bottom corner far side with 10 minutes left.
The North Okanagan United and Goplen Drillers played to a scoreless draw at Marshall Field #5. The Drillers are 2-2-1 and United is 1-3-1.
The Drillers, who had no subs, are looking for new players. Call Shelley Zupp at 250-545-3853.
Seasons in the Okanagan Sistas lost a 1-0 forfeit to Setters Pub since they only had seven players.
Setters improved to 3-0-1, while the expansion Sistas dropped to 0-3-1.
