Tolko Vernon United finished their season as U13 boys by stopping MLS Schalke Coquitlam 1-0 in Sunday’s final of the Shuswap Score ‘n Shore Soccer Tournament.
With Jonathan Fraser-Monroe in net, fronted by Alex Kazimer, Liam Collins, Jonah Strachan and Tate Garrod, the boys played a great game with tremendous back and forth play. Battles in the midfield kept Alexander Jones, Justin Russell, Cameron Acob and Kolby Thorpe on their toes.
While strikers Cash Anderson, Carter Leahy, and Danny McLennan battled to put one past the keeper, the game remained scoreless at the end of regulation play. Tournament rules had the boys playing two five-minute overtime periods to settle the match.
Two minutes into the first OT, supported by Nick Noren and Owen Challen, Justin Ruscheinsky converted the winner. Coquitlam won the Provincial A Cup title in July.
Vernon toppled Calgary Real Madrid 6-3 Sunday morning to reach the final.
In Saturday matches, United dispatched Abbotsford ASA Storm and South Kootenay by identical scores of 4-0.
The Vernon United U12 Girls Tolko Strikers captured a silver medal in the same tournament, falling 1-0 to the Kootenay South Storm Sunday.
Both sides enjoyed scoring chances with the Storm taking the lead with only 15 minutes left. Jessica Bond and Ashlee Befus were stellar on defence, while Jesse Mitchell was selected as game MVP for her outstanding goalkeeping.
The Strikers started with a 2-1 win over host Salmon Arm Saturday morning.
Anna Hirschkorn opened the scoring at two minutes when she converted an Adelynn Heyes cross. Salmon Arm responded 18 minutes later, but with only 10 minutes left, Hirschkorn found Cassidy Bocking at the far post, where Bocking tucked the ball into the open left side of the net. Hirschkorn was selected MVP.
Heyes connected in the second minute as Tolko tied Rutland Cre8ed 2-1. Heyes ran on to a monster Lauren Hoard goal kick that traveled three quarters of the field. Heyes beat a defender to the ball and tucked it in.
Nine minutes later, Vernon made it 2-0 when Paige Cover collected a Hirschkorn cross and cooly slotted the ball past the outstretched keeper. Cre8ed, who won the Tier 1 Kelowna House Soccer championship, got two unanswered goals for the draw.
Kirsten Brown did a great job in the midfield, while Jordan Tung shone on defence. Hoard was MVP.
On Sunday morning, the Strikers grounded the Nelson Selects 4-1 to win their pool.
Jordyn Clarke buried a Hirschkorn corner at seven minutes. It remained 1-0 until the beginning of the second half when Hirschkorn took over the game.
She scored on two consecutive free kicks from 35 and 40 yards out respectively, tucking the ball just under the bar on both occasions.
Hirschkorn then sealed the deal with 15 minutes left by rocketing a 20-yarder. Nelson broke the shutout with six minutes remaining.
Chelsea Sladen and Naomi King were noted for their tireless running in midfield, while Tori Maltman was selected MVP.
The Vernon United Tolko Coldstream Lumber U13 Girls also took silver in the Shuswap, falling 2-1 to the Williams Lake Storm in the final.
Mia Hyer gave Vernon the early lead but the but the Storm answered back immediately.
Madison Bergman had a stunning goal minutes later waved off because of a late call ruling the ball had gone out.
Williams Lake netted the winner on a penalty kick. Jordyn Kisilevich and Hyer unleased multiple shots, while Paige Maleska almost bent a free kick into the net.
The Coldstream Lumber girls were on fire in their opener as they grounded the Surdel (Surrey-Delta) Strikers 4-1 with Jessi Cleverley converting twice in the first five minutes, one off of a magnificent cross from Hyer and the other with the aide of Brooklyn Kineshanko.
Kisilevich connected from Maleska, while Skylee Sigurdson-Poirier sent the ball to the crease and Shirelle Nickoli tapped it in for security.
Game 2 saw United lose 3-2 to Williams Lake with Hyer scoring Vernon’s first goal off a rebound.
United keeper Shaila Austin made a valiant effort on two penalty-shot situations, but she didn’t have a chance on either PK.
The Storm posted another goal in the second half widening their lead, but Hyer went top cheddar to make things interesting.
On Sunday, the United went into a must-win game against Shuswap FC and prevailed 4-0.
Kisilevich, Nickoli and Hyer poured on the pressure from the start with Nickoli finally putting one away off a keeper rebound. Sigurdson-Poirier had multiple shots in the half with no luck.
Vernon continued to push hard in the second half with the defensive line of Kendall McKinnon, Emma Glasser and Maleska constantly pushing the ball up. Thanks to excellent positioning,
Kisilevich and Kineshanko recorded snipes within minutes of each other, and Hyer sealed the deal with another late goal. Austin earned the shutout.