Morning Star Staff
Dr. Lee’s Dental/Checkers shut down TED United of Salmon Arm 2-0 in a North Okanagan Women’s Soccer Association Competitive Division showdown Tuesday night at Marshall Field #2.
It was a very defensive game in the first half with both teams having great scoring chances only to be stopped by good goalkeeping. The best chance came off the foot of Dr. Lee’s scoring ace Madison Kaneda from just outside the 18-yard box, only to have TED United keeper Alyssa Wilbur make a great diving safe.
Kaneda was not denied in the first five minutes of the second half with a 20-yard rocket shot to the corner of the net.
The play started from a quick throw-in from Becky Dodds to the sprinting Kaneda. TED United pressed for the equalizer, but great all-around defence from the entire Dental crew turned away their attacks.
Lisa Arrotta came up big in net for 5-2 Dr. Lee’s Dental, stopping any offensive attack made by the 5-1-2 United crew.
Andi King put the game in the bag for the Dental crew with eight minutes remaining, taking a great through ball from Dodds. The play began from the Dental crew’s side of the field with Kim Teichman finding an open Irene Arrotta through the middle, then Arrotta finding a streaking Dodds on the opposite side of the field.
Stellar defensive play came from the entire Dental crew after losing sweeper Bobbi Cormier midway through the second half with a knee injury.
Cindy Worth, Dana Reid, Teichman, Dodds, Jill Rintoul, Steph Wilson and Jacquie Hansen did a great job stopping TED United.
Blazers shut down Timber
In other Competitive play, Eileen Pelliccia recorded her second shutout of the season as the AF Blazers toppled the North Enderby Celtics 2-0 at Marshall Field #1.
Ally Cummings opened the scoring midway through the first, assisted from Bettina Berger.
Goal of the match came in the second half with an amazing pass from all-star Angie Mendes to Carissa Morneau for insurance. Signi MacNeill & Jenny Hatten enjoyed many scoring chances for the Blazers (1-4-2), who are sponsored by Andrew Ference of the Stanley Cup champion Boston Bruins. His wife, Krista, plays for the Blazers.
Jane Higgins and Amber Maltman were solid on defence. Paula Brownlee, Carley Major, Janna Cummings and Chelsea Ricketts sparkled in the midfield.
In Masters Division play, the Controllers were reeling after a quick strike by Rene Cooke of Monashee’s before Jacquie Nuyens settled things down as she drew keeper Peggy Warnes out of position and made a clever pass back to Krista Backer for the tying goal 10 minutes later.
Late in the first half, Sue Ghattas was denied in close, but minutes later, Nuyens cut one back and Leslie Epp put it in from close range to make it a 2-1 final Controllers.
A stubborn 2-5-2 Monashee’s side had their offensive chances and their defence shut out the Controllers in the second half, with fullback Michelle Wiebe heading a sure goal over the bar.
Midfielder Epp was chosen as Air Tech Mechanical Player of the Match for breaking up a lot of plays and quickly moving the ball forward.
Warnes played great in goal for Monashee’s, as did Michelle Mercer and Val Percy, who split the duties for the 7-1-1 Controllers.
Impact brush back Sistas
The Okanagan Impact doubled the first-year Season’s in the Okanagan Sistas 4-2 at Marshall #5.
Liz Thomson, Shelinda Morin, Janelle Smithson and Sue Herring scored for the Impact (5-3-1), who capitalized on three rebounds off outstanding saves by keeper Nicole Langner and a high shot put skillfully in the top of the net.
“I was pleased with the consistent build- up to each goal in the first half but we got away from our game-plan a bit in the second half,” said Impact head coach Mike Sandstra. “Overall, I’m happy with the progress the team has been making.”
Sistas’ Player of the Match went to defender Becky Birbilis for her confidence and strong play. Sherry Wiebe and Gizelle Duquette also worked hard to stifle the Impact offence and give the Sistas a chance to press forward.
Wiebe put an excellent through ball to Kim Sylvester, who broke in on a foot race and made no mistake putting it past Impact keeper Wendy Ellis. Andy Zubot made a perfect pass across to Sasha Schenker who scored on a gritty challenge against keeper Ellis as they both went down as the shot was taken.
United fall to Merlot
In Salmon Arm, the Vernon Square Liquor Store North Okanagan United lost 2-1 in a chippy and yappy affair to the Shuswap Merlot with the Merlot benefitting from an own goal in the dying minutes.
Keeper Dar Weise was great for NOU, stopping another penalty shot as United went to 3-4-2. The Merlot are 5-3-1.
Midfielder Char McNaught hustled up and down the field, stripping and controlling the ball while setting up her teammates. Sarah Kwantes showed off her strong boot and playmaking skills.
Shelly Johnston, Penney Crebo-Dolman and calendar girl Karen Benn were rocks on defence, while Cheryl Roddis keeps on getting faster and stronger running down opponents down the line and crossing several balls perfectly into the 18.
Sue Barss, despite nursing a knee injury, played hard and first to the ball for NOU.
In other action, the visiting Goplen Drillers bowed 5-3 to Shuswap Kaos.
Tina Garrison dribbled past the defence and went low, left corner to give the Drillers (2-5-2) the early lead. Jeneece Miller and Chrissy Gillespie set up Felicia O’Gorman for a header to make it 2-0. at the half.
Shelley Zupp put the shorthanded Drillers up 3-0 before the Kaos stormed back.