The Kalamalka Lakers and Seaton Sonics met in Thursday’s North Zone Senior AA Boys Soccer League playoff final at Kal.
Both teams advanced to the Valley Playdowns next Thursday and Friday at Marshall Field with semifinal wins Tuesday so were playing for seeding numbers in the final.
Kal brushed back the VSS Panthers 6-2, while the Sonics shocked the Fulton Maroons 3-2 in the semis.
Cari Dyck’s Lakers, who took first place over the Maroons with a better head-to-head record, struggled for the opening 10 minutes before Alex Harper sweetly nodded in a header off a corner by Matt Kreutz, to get Kal moving.
Kreutz pulled the hat trick, completing the feat thanks to some gritty effort by Mitchell Reynolds.
Hard-working Steven Goebel connected once for Kal, while Swade Scebba, on his 16th birthday, scored on a beautiful cross volley.
Nolan Wiese and Cody Bisson replied for the Panthers, coached by Cory Grant.
“We have been working hard in practice on communication, staying in formation and moving the ball to the wings and up,” said Dyck.
“We were able to run the field on VSS when we got the ball to the outside, creating a lot of scoring chances with powerful crosses by the Kreutz brothers at midfield.”
Fulton grabbed an early lead when Austin Richardson netted his first of two goals before Seaton equalized midway through the half when a classic corner by Tom Pool was headed in by Finlay McPhie.
“Everybody played an outstanding game,” said Seaton head coach Sara Kwantes. “After being scored against within the first few minutes, the boys played hard to take the victory.”
Seaton went ahead 2-1 when Richardson made a challenge inside the penalty area and Noa Acri hit the ground and was awarded a penalty kick. Acri, who had taken a pass from Rudi Goldnik, nailed the right side of the net on the PK.
Seaton went up 3-1 midway through the second half when Andres Castillo converted a feed from Luis Manuel. Fulton appliied pressure for the last 10 minutes and Richardson scored his second with three minutes left.
“It was disappointing after having such a good season,” said Fulton coach Wayne Aasen. “It became more difficult losing our two top goal scorers. I deliberately put big Austin up front to put a scare into the Seaton defence.
“His goal, after a beautiful through ball from Kody Glinsboskel, was a great start. We just could not maintain the momentum. The whole team seems to have lost our confidence right at the worst time.”
