The Controllers got to play their first game of the season (had been scheduled to play for two weeks at Marshall Field, which was closed due to wet conditions) in the North Okanagan Women’s Masters Soccer League.
And the scoreless draw against the Gray Monk Impact felt like a win for the Controllers, who took a few minutes after the start to get their bearings and game legs.
Michele Wernicke was outstanding as Controllers’ goalie the entire game, effectively directing her defence and successfully coming out of her net to challenge a couple of offensive breaks by Impact. She was also named most sportsmanlike player by Impact.
Although there was no scoring to report, newcomers Cara Illerbrun and Christyna Whieldon were outstanding both in the midfield and up front creating several scoring chances for the Controllers. New to the game, Laura Champigny was stealth-like on the right wing and used her speed to help contain the play up front.
Part way through the second half, Elena Sookarow had a brilliant run up the left midfield and continued past the Impact’s defence to get a beautiful shot on goal that just went wide. Emma Louie, Amy Shupe, and Wanda Vanderveen all worked well together on the forward line to create several scoring opportunities.
Val Percy, Brandie Hunter, and Martina Allen were solid on defence and used their speed to shut down Impact’s speedy forwards.
CHICK KICKERS 3 VQA 1
The Chick Kickers pulled out a win against a vastly improved VQA squad at Mac Park Tuesday night. The first half had VQA come out and take control with a lot of speed up front, jumping out to a 1-0 lead.
In the second half the Kickers went to work. With a perfect pass through the defenders from Jen Kemper, Dawn Ansdell found the back of the net after a race to the ball put VQA’s goalie out of position. Ansdell just had to chase the loose ball and calmly fired it in to tie the game.
In a near similar play, after some great two-way passing between Jenny Garnett and Ansdell, Jen Kemper had another through ball and beat the goalie.
The third goal was the prettiest of the night. Halfback Joanne Lockhart worked the ball from deep in the Chick zone with a great pass to Marilynn Vanderdeen, who then poked it to Colleen Johnson coming across the top of the box. Johnson expertly timed the bounce and flicked the ball, with her left toe, over the defenders’ heads to Garnett who put away her first of the year.
Great hustle from the fullbacks Steph Curtis and Wendy Magnus held the speedy VQA attack to the outside all night.
VQA led the game with a splendid goal by super mom Harmony Crockett on a fantabulous shot from the corner up and into the net.
The wine ladies welcomed three new players: Tracy Eddy, Angie Mendes and Lindsay Smith. All three played hard and it’s believed VQA will keep them.
Bobbie Jo, the keeper, was amazing. She stopped many a direct kick and prevented many goals. VQA welcomed back Jane Sutton, off for two seasons with an injury and a Masters.
Great coaching by Frede Laursen!!!
As well amazing referee Mike Zuber and his two associates, Ava and Jace. We thank you for your time this evening.
All the ladies played awesome tonight, playing together as a team.
TED UNITED 2 ROSTERS 0
Rosters fell to 2-0 to Salmon Arm’s TED United Tuesday at MacDonald Park.
Roster’s defence worked hard to shut down TED’s skilled forwards with great goaltending by Peggy Schepp and Brenda Keay. Susie Wiseman was awarded MVP for her hard work in midfield.
DR. LEE’S DENTAL 3 SHUSWAP MERLOT 0
Dr. Lee’s Dental finally got their season under way with a convincing 3-0 win over Shuswap Merlot at Blackburn Park in Salmon Arm.
The first half ended in a scoreless tie with the floss crew controlling the play, hitting two crossbars but couldn’t get one by Merlot goalie Janice Crerar.
Dr. Lee continued to control the play in the second half with great movement on and off the ball, and it finally paid off when Julie Bolin’s (returning after too many years away) through ball to Erin Scott was crossed to Deanna Baker who waited out Crerar to place it nicely into the net. Scott got Dental’s second goal on a flick from Baker after a beautiful cross for Cindy Worth.
Scott finished the scoring off with her second of the night when she drilled the ball into the far corner after a through ball that started with Jennie Currie to Michele Sander and finally flicked on by Bolin to Scott.
The defensive line of Jacquie Hansen, Irene Arrotta, Jennie Currie, Worth, Amanda Bolton (returning after a few years away), Sarah Green and Barb Levesque were all over the field keeping Merlot offence at bay. Lisa Arrotta recorded the shutout.
DIV. 1
NET Celtics 4 Do-ITT Drywall 2
The NET Celtics battled hard for a 4-2 win over Do-ITT drywall.
Do-ITT took an early 2 -0 on two goals from Janessa Moore.
Alexis Tuyttens replied with a gorgeous 25-yard curler at the 30-minute mark.
Ten minutes into the second half, Meghan Rydde rocketed a cross top shelf. Fifteen minutes later, NET newcomer Toshiko Hoshi took a beauty free kick from 25 yards over the wall only to be saved by Drywall keeper. Tuyttens buried the rebound. In the final minutes of the game Rydde got her second from another cross, calmly slotting the ball past the keeper.
Hoshi covered every inch of the pitch for NET to be the game MVP.
Brittney pepper was a standout for Do-ITT drywall with her never-ending work effort.