Vernon Tolko United tied Kamloops Blaze P 2-2 Sunday at Marshall Field #4 and lost 3-1 to host Kamloops Blaze L Saturday at the Singh Bowl in Thompson Okanagan Under 14 Boys Rep Soccer League action.
Vernon pressured hard in the first minute Sunday with Taylor Halloran and Tanner Lapp driving to the net and setting up Ashton Kamatyk.
Within five minutes, Kamatyk and Tanner Lapp challenged the Blaze keeper on a loose ball with Lapp converting.
Kamloops scored just before halftime and equalized on a second-half penalty kick.
Marvellous showings for United came from Quinn Soon, Ethan Greenan and Justin Russell.
In Kamloops, the Blaze were on fire and went up 3-0 by 15 minutes. Vernon was awarded a PK just before the break and Kamaryk capitalized.
Keeper Gage Stoll did not allow a goal in the second half with Vernon getting multiple chances for goals. Lapp had a stellar game.
Coaches Mike Stoll and Rick Ogasawara were stoked with United’s play.
“This is definitely a weekend for the boys to look at and say ‘we can play with anybody in our league ’ and to take this and continue to move move forward,” said Stoll. “Again, great job boys; you played your hearts out and we saw some really great stuff.”
The Vernon United u13 Boys secured a 3-2 win over Kelowna United V Sunday.
Keeper Justin Ruscheinsky was fronted by Marcus Petersen, Liam Collins and Alex Kazimer. The forward line of Owen Challen and Cash Anderson forced the Kelowna keeper into action early.
Supported by Cam Acob and Zach Loland in the midfield, Landon Janke scored on a pass from Carter Leahy to put Vernon on the sheet first. Kelowna rallied with a high shot and the game was tied by halftime.
Levi Koroll’s free kick from midfield in Kelowna’s end sailed over the keeper putting Vernon ahead again. Marcus Erho and Justin Arsenault maintained the pressure well into the second half. Kelowna tied it at 30 minutes.
Tolko’s back line of Jonah Strachan and Alexander Jones, Vernon kept battling and with just moments left, Kolby Thorpe ran up the flank and crossed to Janke, who headed in the winner.
Communication and teamwork were the keys as VUZ U12s grounded Salmon Arm 2-0 and tied 2-2 with Penticton C Sunday.
Fullbacks James Richardson, Kaden O’Connor, Rowan Smith, Blake Beaton, Jentenzen Peterson and keeper Dillion Rinkel were marvellous in the victory, while the forward line of Josh Donison, Hunter Schindel, Henry Routley, Jonas Mcmeeking-walsh and Rowan Calder pressed hard, striking the crossbar three times.
Routley scored their first goal assisted by Kailin Russel. Nothing short of a freight train was going to hold Peterson, who normally plays forward but was on the back line due to an injury. He still managed to juggle his way through players off a corner from Donison and adding insurance.
The following game against Penticton C was full of action and skill from both teams with Penticton converting first on a breakaway and going up by a deuce a few minutes later.
Schindel scored the first Vernon goal off a breakaway and Schindel equalized, from Mcmeeking-Walsh.