Morning Star Staff
Wind and rain couldn’t stop the Vernon Square Liquor Store VQA’s as they surprised the previously undefeated Shuswap Kaos 1-0 in North Okanagan Women’s Soccer Association Masters play Tuesday night at Marshall Field #3.
Montreal native Sue McKinnon scored off a splendid pass from Jen Hatten in front of the Kaos net. Calendar girl Karen Benn earned the shutout.
The VQA’s strung together nice passes all over the field by midfielders Harmony Crockett, Sue Barss, Carla Gibson and Carly Bibby.
Rita Tedesco had a great game, starting at fullback before shifting to wing.
Squires Four Pub stretched their winning streak to four games by holding off the Controllers 1-0.
Marisa Weibe calmly put the ball past keeper Michelle Wernicke on a penalty kick after Jacquie Hansen was pulled down inside the 18.
Jill Rintoul blasted a rocket off the crossbar as Squires sought insurance. Super hustle came from Leah Frye, Deanna Baker and Hansen on the forward line. Lisa Arrotta recorded the shutout.
The Controllers (1-2-1) were thrilled at holding Squires to one goal as they ran down their speedy forwards, won some balls in the midfield, won a few battles off corners and even enjoyed some breakaways on the powerful Squires back four.
Player of the Match for the Controllers went to Wernicke.
“She (Wernicke) is good normally, but she was an animal tonight,” said Controller veteran Jacquie Nuyens. “Many times she ran out of her net to the 18-yard box to kick away a thru ball from their speedy attackers – she beat them everytime in a foot race. She stole balls out of the air from them in front of the goal, on the ground …didn’t matter. Her ability to read the play was on tonight.”
Val Percy, Brandie Hunter, Shelley Henry, and Sena Bishop were a force on the back line, while midfielder-turned forward Melissa Henson was sensational as a forward,
The Controllers welcome back Krista Backer, who played her first game in Canada since playing with the Controllers in Italy at the World Masters in 2013. She was solid up front along with Karen Zupp and Leah Mulvihill.
The Chick Kickers swamped Season Sistas 7-0.
Midfielder Jen Kemper jumpstarted the attack with a long, wind-assisted shot that fooled the keeper Wendy Nadeau. Winger Kelly Challen followed with a nice run and shot for the 2-0 goal.
Super striker Jenny Garnett sandwiched two more goals between stopper Wendy Magnus’s first of the year. In the second half, goals from Krista Maccagno and Stephanie Curtis, both their first of the season, closed out the scoring.
The Sistas were happy to record a lot of little victories with Nadeau getting bombarded with shots and stopping more than she allowed.
Relentless Tammy Buick narrowly missed the net after following in one of Diane Neudorf’s deflected shots. Defender Trista Bassett released her inner beast and winger Debra Rosher showed her warrior side.
Newbie Leenna Hay showed great promise, while Wendy Bueckert, Debra Rosher and Jessica Garro played with heart and injuries. Bridget Frick played with grit as usual.
Longhorn/Graymonk Impact lost 3-2 to league-leading TED United in Salmon Arm.
Yvonne Rogers and Ashley Beuchler, both pick-ups from Kelowna, scored for the Impact, who gave up an own goal in the opeing minute.
Keeper Vel Beaumont was brilliant, punching out a sure goal from a corner.
Rosters clipped host Shuswap Merlot 1-0 win but they didn’t come away unscathed as offensive force Renee Cooke broke her ankle on a run to the net. Keeper Amanda Smiley cleared the ball feeding forward Becky McLennan who capitalized with a beauty goal as Rosters improved to 2-2.
