Turn-Key Controls Ogopogos took playoff champion Brown Benefits to extra time in last year’s Capri Insurance Men’s 45+ Soccer League semifinals.
The third-place Pogos appear primed for another strong post-season run after battling first-place Browns to a 2-2 draw Monday night at Marshall Field #3.
Turn-Key came out with high intensity and displayed a amazing game of possession and passing while driving the net hard for some early scoring chances.
Browns took advantage of some miscommunication deep in the Pogo zone and Tim Austen tapped in the opening goal in a one-v-one battle with keeper Mike Moorlag.
Shortly afterwards, Bobby Zalcik called for a sub when the ball was blasted far to the sidelines near the 35-yard line. Kerry Zubot subbed in and made a nice throw-in to Bryan Schenker, who cut in all alone and faked a shot at Browns keeper Chris Young and passed to Clint Dickenson in front for the nice finish.
In the second half, Turn-Key kept pressing and just missed on numerous goal opportunities.
Browns quickly took a fee kick which was booted out of trouble by defender Volker Otto. The Brown played went down and was awarded a penalty kick which Steve Fagan buried for the 2-1 lead.
Turn-Key somehow gutted it up and enjoyed another handful of chances with Zalcik rushing in from his outside position and taking a sweet feed from Jeff Nice before hammering in the equalizer in the 85th minute.
The Pogos hemmed Browns in their zone with four corners in a row in the dying minutes with Schenker hitting a corker which was headed top cheddar until keeper Young made a miraculous save. Young was brilliant all night.
Browns are 16-0-2, while Turn-Key improved to 11-4-3. Both teams have one regular-season game left before the playoffs.
In other A Division play, Soccer United bounced Bosman Accounting 4-1 at Rutland Sports Field #1.
Soccer United started strong with Chiang Lee riverdancing past a few defdenders and keeper Yogi Kongsdorf inside the six for the opening strikle at 15 minutes.
Shortly after, a streaking, yet fully-clothed Walter Morel connected with a long shot from the right side which caught Kongsdorf off his line.
Bosman refused to surrender as they worked hard and hemmed United in their own end for the remainder of the half with several near-misses.
United’s Mike Bertoia smoothly converted a penalty kick after a slide tackle inside the box by Henk Bosman just before the half-time whistle.
Midway through the second half, Bertoia converted another PK after a foul by Kevin Mitchell inside the 18.
The ever-dangerous Mike Grace was finally rewarded, firing home a shutout spoiler short side past keeper Chris Turbitt late in the game. Grace, who was named the Kalamalka Lake Store Man of the Match, had earlier misfired on two Grade A chances. Burkitt didn’t bobble a thing all night as he readies for the B.C. 55+ Games next week in Vernon.
The classy United went to 8-9-1, while Bosman fell to 5-12-1.
In B side play, the Okanagan Spring Brewery Camels shut down the Pushor Mitchell Rented Mules 3-0 at Parkinson Field #16 in Kelowna.
Striker Johnny Orton registered the winner at 15 minutes, drilling a shot low after a feed from central midfielder Brian Williamson.
Darren Hansen broke a lengthy scoring drought by swiping a ball and looping a 25-yarder over the keeper in the 52nd minute.
Hansen, who earned the Happy Days Corner Store Man of the Match, set up Rick Raber for further security at 75 minutes with Raber going low from the left corner.
Striker-turned-keeper Mike Daly blocked a breakaway attempt while recording the clean sheet. The Camels are 4-10-4, while the Mules fell to 1-16-1.