The Seaton Sonics stopped the host Kalamalka Lakers 4-1 in North Zone Senior Boys Soccer League play Monday night.
Seaton won the regular-season banner and receives a bye into the playoff final Thursday at the Greater Vernon Athletics Park (4:15 p.m.). The second-place Lakers battle the Pleasant Valley Saints in Tuesday’s semifinal at Kal (4:15). The top two teams advance to the Okanagan Valley Championships, Nov. 3-4, in Kamloops.
The Lakers’ back line, anchored by Luc Jones and Finn Plummer, was tough on the Sonics.
Liam Glennon opened the Sonic offence in the 28th minute with a strong drive from inside the box. Seaton keeper Jared Quibell was solid, making three first-half saves. In the second half, Seaton stretched the field a bit, led by particularly strong play from midfielder Chris McIntosh, who won several key battles in the middle of the field and distributed the ball effectively.
Glennon converted in the 43rd minute with a great touch, lifting the ball over keeper Martine Cabezas’ reach from 30 yards. Kazuki Comley made it 3-0 Seaton with a great left-footed shot that travelled over Cabezas and reached the far side of the net seven minutes later.
A quick give and go with Jack Tolpinrud led to the release of Laker striker Michael Hoyland to make the score 3-1. at 55 minutes. Hoyland had two earlier excellent drives that narrowly missed. Kalamalka developed some confidence after the tally and generated a breakaway for Marcos Vidarte only to be stymied by the rushing Quibell. Daiki Shimokawa and Kaden Funk contributed to the Laker attack in the second half generating opportunities for the forwards,
Seaton finalized the scoring at 60 minutes with Glennon’s hat-trick goal, a very nice effort after a sweet cross from Maguire Lauridsen, making a move to his left in the box and scoring with the outside of his foot.