The North Okanagan United warmed up for a Las Vegas tournament by shutting down the Shuswap Kaos 3-0 in North Okanagan Women’s Soccer Association Masters Division play Tuesday night in Salmon Arm.
United, who have six players gambling on wins in Vegas starting today, opened the scoring when sweeper Shelly Johnston sent a low hard ball up through the middle to the feet of Melissa Jacobs, who buried a hard drive into the left corner.
Shelley Henry, making her return after a brief retirement, calmly placed a shot past the Kaos keeper for a 2-0 NOU lead.
United added insurance when Carla Gibson’s high corner was headed in beautifully by Jacobs.
NOU (1-3) received great playmaking from Teresa Collins, who controlled the middle and sentnumerous goal scoring options to the front line.
Hard-working midfielders Cheryl Roddis, Sue Barss, Charlotta McNaught and Rita Tedesco added to the frenzy of constant attacks.
NOU keeper Darlene Wiese was brilliant, pulling off a World Cup-Supergirl jump with the tips of her fingers to save a goal.
The Chick Kickers stretched their winning streak to four games with a 5-0 stuffing of the expansion Season’s Sistas at Marshall Field #5.
The Chicks managed just one goal against a stubborn Sistas’ defence in the first half with Wendy Martens converting on a great lob pass from Genny Garrett.
The Chicks played with way more structure and exploded for four second-half goals from Michelle Johnson, Tania Sladen, Kelly Challen and Martens.
Dawn Tucker got the shutout behind a great defensive line of newly-engaged Nadine Krywonos, Marilnn Vanderdeen, Bridget Grant and Wendy Magnus.
Kim Sylvester had a few good scoring chances for the Sista’s, while their Lady of the Match was newbie Cora Grove, who was nervous as a first-day kindergarten student in net.
Grove made a couple of solid saves, kicked a couple of balls up the field, and gained confidence to be quite the exciting keeper in the first half under machine-gun type offence by the Kickers.
Sherry Wiebe played another outstanding stopper, dream killing and helping to direct the rest of the back line.
Andrea Zubot and Deb Whitling played well at center mid and Sasha Schenker made a couple of rushes in the second half that made things interesting.
The Vernon Controllers stopped the Goplen Drillers 4-1 at Marshall Field #3.
Angela Durfeld jumpstarted the Drillers’ offence by delivering a cross far post to a waiting Emma Louie, who scored from close range, followed five minutes later by Deanna Baker.
Baker drove a 20-yarder off the crossbar, recovered the rebound, and smashed it into the corner of the net for a 2-0 half-time lead.
The 3-0-1 Controllers converted early in the second with Louie sending a sweet ball to Baker who went bottom corner to make it 3-0.
Playing their best game of the season, the Controllers added one more with Baker setting up Danielle Dunsmore on a pretty goal before the Drillers clicked on a breakaway.
Baker and Michelle Mercer shared Lady of the Match honours with Mercer ruling the midfield with her finest game in years.
The host Salmon Arm Setters Pub smothered the Okanagan Impact 7-1.
Kim Wiebe scored for the Impact, who struck a few crossbars on the night.
No details were reported from the Monashee’s Pub-Shuswap Merlot game at Marshall Field #1.
In Competitive Division play, the AF Blazers pulled off a 1-1 tie against the T.E.D United in a hard-fought battle Tuesday night at Marshall #4.
The 1-2 Blazers opened the scoring near the end of the first half when Delihna Erbenich blasted through the United defence.
United responded shortly after by deking out the Blazers’ keeper.
Jane Higgins, Amber Maltman and Amanda Swales were outstanding on defence, while Ginger Nickoli, Carley Major and Chelsea Ricketts held the midfield.
Jenny Hatten and Carissa Morneau had several scoring opportunities but were unable to convert, and Eileen Pellicca was phenomenal in net.
The Little Tex Outlaws iced the North Enderby Timber Celtics 7-1 at Marshall #2. No details were reported.
