After a first-place Kamloops Slurpee Cup showing the weekend before, the United U12 #2 girls earned a pair of Thompson Okanagan Rep Soccer League draws Sunday at McArthur Island Sports Complex in Kamloops.
Defender Elena Gaskell had a gem of a match as Vernon tied the Kamloops Blaze Orange 2-2, taking a dangerous corner that the Blaze knocked into their own net.
Gaskell scored the late 2-2 equalizer again on a fantastic shot from her own side of half, catching the keeper in no-man’s land.
Carl McLennan’s crew finished the day with a 3-3 deadlock with the Penticton Pinnacles.
Vernon gave up an early wind-aided goal and fell behind 2-0 before Lynley Gordon Mason led the comeback with a dribbling clinic and nice finish before the break.
Abby Williamson shifted the momentum about 10 minutes into the second half with a goal that was called back offside but the girls had Penticton hemmed in their own end.
Olivia McLennan deked around the Penticton defence, was hauled down but quickly got back on her feet in time to bury a gorgeous shot. Williamson netted the equalizer by converting on a scramble.
In U14 girls play, United brushed back the host Blaze Orange 3-1 with goals from Cayleigh Graham, Jaime Grages and Millie Harron.
“The girls controlled the game from the kick-off,” said Vernon coach Michelle Hughes. “We got great back-line play from Emily Clarke, Nina Ogasawara and McKenna Southam, while Sheyna Camalush was awesome in the midfield.”
The visiting U15 girls went to 4-1 by ambushing the Kamloops Blaze Orange 7-0 Sunday.
Emilee Kronbauer supplied two goals for Vernon, one off a beauty feed from Cailin Correia and another when she took the ball down off her body and quickly turned and kicked a one-timer. Reyhanna Akkurt also scored twice, her first a missile one-timer, the second on a rebound off a Kayci Lesosky shot.
Correia, Maddy Laranjo, on a header off the post, and Vicki Grahn, completed the United attack. Jordynne Tomiak recorded her fourth shutout of the season.
The U16 girls shut down the host Shuswap Selects 2-0 Sunday, getting offence from Aryanna Jacura and Dayce Knopf.
Julia Kemper registered the shutout as United turned in a gritty team performance. Coach John Hughes gave special props to Tamara Andronik for bold play up front.
United U13s moved into top spot with a 2-0 win over Kelowna Sunday at Mission Sports Centre Turf Field.
Maja Splawinski and Evan Koshure produced goals for Vernon, who are 5-0-2.
The Interior Savings United U11 #1 girls split games in Salmon Arm, losing 2-1 to Kamloops Orange before grounding Kamloops White 3-1.
United took the lead on Kamloops on a nice passing play from centre midfielder Emily Boden to forward Rane Smith, who fed Megan Claeys for a partial breakaway.
Kamloops countered with two goals and Vernon hit the crossbar three times in the final minutes seeking the equalizer. Defenders Kelcey Fillion and Sara Beca were solid.
Smith pulled the hat trick as United stopped Kamloops White. All of Smith’s goals were assisted by birthday girls Jessica Grages and Anne Cherkowski.
Cherkowski and Boden did a great job of controlling the midfield, while defenders Callie Bertram, Emma Eggert and Kenzie Kozure stepped up and provided stellar support. Greenley Schneider returned from a Game 1 knee injury to play strong in the midfield. Summer Crosby sparkled in net.
United U12 #1 lost 4-2 to Shuswap and bowed 5-2 to host Kamloops.
Vernon started Game 1 strong with several drives up field and finally connected when Keira Correia crossed to Megan Sherwood.
Kelsey Carriere snuck one past the Shuswap keeper for the 2-2 goal.
Vernon opened the scoring early against Kamloops with Danica Ariano clicking on a deflected long shot. Kamloops went up 4-1 before Grace Atkins and Emilia Durfeld delivered some promising runs for United, who got a penalty-kick goal from Carriere.
The United U13 boys split a pair, falling 4-1 to Kelowna Saturday at MacDonald Park and then grounding the Pinnacles 2-1 Sunday at Kings Park in Penticton.
Down 3-0 to Kelowna at the half, United defender Adam Raber headed the ball to midfielder Perez Vermeulen, who passed to forward CJ Storey, who fed forward Ben Purvis in front of the net for Vernon’s goal.
Penticton opened the scoring in the first half Sunday and Vernon replied a short time later with a great run from Storey, to Vermeulen and finally to Purvis.
Midfielder Joe Eggert buried a 20-yard volley for the winner.
Vernon (3-1-2) also got solid goalkeeping from Noah Schneider and mighty work from the defensive line of Kody Kongsdorf, Trent Graham, Raber, Jarod Latta and Dylan Huber.
Midfielders Braeden Cooper, Bryce Turner, Kazuki Comley and Daniel Paskiewich, along with forwards Chris Atkins and Adam Murdoch, enjoyed firm outings.
The U16 boys lost 5-0 to Kamloops Blaze U15 A Blues Saturday at MacDonald Park and bowed 2-1 to host Kamloops U16 Blaze Orange Sunday.
Cody Glinsbockel opened the scoring Sunday on a beauty header off a free kick from Bryce Dyck.
The Shuswap Selects blanked Vernon 4-0 in U17/18 boys action Sunday at Marshall #4.
United U11 boys #1 gained a split in Salmon Arm, dropping just their second regular-season game of the year, 2-1 to Kelowna, before storming Shuswap 5-1.
Saajan Klair buried a beautiful corner from Liam Reid for United’s goal in the loss. Zach Smith covered huge ground in the midfield, with Keegan Carmichael and Jack Cotter supplying super energy. Reid was a sparkplug and took the Red Robin Man of the Match. Keeper Kevin Morgan registered several huge saves.
Vernon dominated Shuswap with Zach Manthorne and Reid providing quality minutes in goal. Morgan led the attack with two goals, with singles going to Smith, Lucas Shuch and Klair. Devin Hofsink and Luc Jones also provided tough defence, and birthday-boy Joel Kongsdorf worked hard on the back line.
“The boys showed great passing and ball control in the afternoon game. They continue to impress” said assistant coach James (Left Foot) Cotter.
United U11 boys #2 pocketed a tie and a win, drawing 1-1 with Kelowna Bs and clipping Kelowna Reds 1-0.
Logan Quibell kept the opener close with some splendid saves and Gavin Medema anchored a back line that stopped many counterattacks. Matt Reich ran miles up front, while Liam Glennon converted a fantastic 30-yard chip shot to put Vernon up 1-0.
United displayed the work ethic that has kept them unbeaten since mid-April in the afternoon match with Medema supreme at centre back and Maksim Chirkoff, Tysen Fairweather and Target Man of the Match Aiden Skinner providing dynamic support.
James Meeks got honourable mention for playing his best game of the year to shut down the Kelowna offence, while Dawson Martian scored on a rebound after a Kobe Grant shot.
“These boys always dig deep when needed, and find a way to keep the streak alive,” said coach John Glennon.
