Vernon United U12 A and B soccer teams had a shot at hardware in their season-opening youth soccer tournaments in Penticton.
The United B squad had an excellent run, making it to the tournament before losing a penalty kick shootout to the Kelowna Gladiators.
“The boys really came together as a group this weekend and displayed the work ethic required to achieve soccer success,” said head coach John Glennon.
The team opened the tournament with a scoreless tie against a very tough opponent, the Kelowna Warriors, with Logan Quibel earning a clean sheet after some fantastic saves.
Game two saw Vernon light up a Penticton Pinnacles team 6-0, with Liam Glennon netting a hat trick, Kobe Grant finding the back of the net for two, and Ben Imrich scoring his first.
In their third and final round robin game, the boys needed a win against Kelowna Venom and, in a hard fought battle, posted a 1-0 decision with Keagan Carmichael scoring the lone goal with some fancy footwork to keep the ball in play before blasting it by the Kelowna keeper.
Ben Morgan, Keegan Carmichael, Matt Reich and Dawson Martian also had stellar games.
Logan Quibel logged a shutout in each of the four games during regulation time and was only beaten in the shootout.
Vernon United A placed fourth in the eight-team tournament, opening with a tough 1-0 loss to Kelowna Gladiators.
Kevin Morgan was stellar in goal to keep his team in the game, with strong showings coming from Saajan Klair and Kaden Funk. This was followed by a 2-2 tie with a Penticton team, with Gavin Medema and Max Chirkoff supplying goals and Hayden Catt and Jack Cotter solid on the backline.
Game three saw the boys earn a tough 2-1 victory over Kamloops, with James Meeks as man of the match and Nate Paskiewich providing excellent defence.
That set up a bronze medal match against another tough Kelowna team, and Vernon bowed 3-1 in a hard-fought contest to the Venom.
Liam Reid supplied the lone goal on a patented 40-yard strike.
Coach Paul Morgan made special mention of stalwarts Chirkoff and Cotter for outstanding play all tournament.
Next up for both teams are league games on April 13, followed by an Icebreaker Tournament in Winfield April 18-20.
n Vernon’s Maya Bandy set up one of Thompson Okanagan Football Club’s four goals in a 4-1 league win over Fusion FC in Richmond on the weekend.
Kelowna’s Erin Graham scored the fourth goal after her well-timed run was picked out perfectly with a great pass from Bandy.
Mikayla Moore of Kelowna had the other three goals for TOFC.
