The Thompson Okanagan FC tangle with Coastal FC of Vancouver-Delta in the EA Sports Provincial Premier Cup Under 13 girls soccer final Sunday at the Kelowna Apple Bowl (1:320 p.m.).
Third-place TOFC stopped second-place Mountain FC in the semifinals last Saturday at the Burnaby Lakes West Complex. Weather at the time was heavy rain and the turf was quite soaked. This would play a key factor in one of the goals.
For the majority of the first half, TOFC had the play in Mountain’s defensive third. Many opportunities arose for TOFC but the Mountain keeper was able to see and save all shots.
The midfield consisting of Abigail Taneda (West Kelowna), Kate Cartier and Annika Gross (both from Kelowna), the wingers, Ava Wright (Vernon) and Paige Cates (Kelowna), and the striker Jordan King (Salmon Arm) played with high pressure, leaving Mountain few opportunities to break out.
Mountain was able to keep pushing and eventually got through into TOFC’s defensive end. With an opportunity to shoot, Mountain centre midfielder let loose a long shot that skipped on the wet turf and was able to fool the TOFC keeper Leisl Milovic (Kamloops). Unfortunately that was the first shot on net and resulted in a goal.
The first half ended with Mountain up 1-0.
The second half started with aggressive play by both teams, many one on one battles in the midfield won and lost by both teams. TOFC defenders, Jaidyn McGrath (West Kelowna) , Chloe Dalgarno (Kelowna) , Sophia Clarke(Kelowna) and Lauren Schmidt (Kelowna) kept Mountain from getting many chances. Those shots that did get through were turned away by keeper Liesl Milovic.
TOFC secured a corner kick at the 40 minute mark and Abigail Taneda delivered a well placed ball in the goal area, Annika Gross was able to get a head on the ball after a bounce and deflect it off the crossbar and into the goal. Game was tied 1-1. The goal energized the TOFC squad and they were determined to finish strong, but Mountain also had the same idea with the play balanced back and forth between both teams.
At the 55th minute, Kiera Howaniec (Kamloops) had an opportunity outside the 18 and delivered a half-volley laser to the back of the net, giving TOFC the comeback lead.
TOFC now put the game into high gear and played well defensively and continued to pressure the Mountain squad for the remaining time until the whistle. This TOFC team is the only home team in the finals, and the first girls team to reach the finals in the history of TOFC in the BCSPL.
TOFC Squad: Head Coach Brian Dewar, Asst Coach Randy Schmidt, Manager Tracie Dalgarno