Morning Star Staff
Vernon Tolko United fell 3-0 to Kelowna United in Thompson Okanagan U15 Rep Girls Soccer League play Saturday at the Greater Vernon Athletics Park.
Makena Kersey turned in a powerful showing on defence along with great support from Gabby Triggs.
Vernon bowed 2-0 to Kelowna U16s Sunday with Carly Southam, Kelsey Carriere, Triggs, and Naudia Smith all playing an aggressive defensive game.
Jayden Strachan and Mariya Blades had a great scoring chance in the second half. Megan Sherwood and Carly Southam sparkled on the right side and created lots of opportunities for Brianna Bobbitt, who had a great shot on net but couldn’t convert. Hailey Yablonski recorded some stellar saves.
Tolko United lost 1-0 to Kelowna in U13 Girls play at Marshall Field #1.
The early-morning Sunday game proved to be a wake-up call for the Vernon girls who struggled in the first half to mount much of an offensive attack.
Helping to keep Vernon in it to the second half was Kassidy Schaper-Kotter, who helped keeper Brianna Li on a couple of Kelowna attempts rolling towards the goal-line.
Waking up in the second half, the local girls really stepped up their play.
Good defensive play by Olivia Johnson, Sarah Boyd and Alex Murphy kept Kelowna to the perimeter while further team support shut down the Kelowna offence.
Kate McIntosh and Schaper-Kotter unleashed fabulous free kicks which just missed.
Excellent foot work and one-v-one play from Karmen Jenke, Brooklyn Routley and Sydney Torrie put more pressure on Kelowna.
The Tolko AIL MSE Precast U12 Girls Blues came out forcefully against Kelowna C before losing 3-0 in Salmon Arm.
Kaiden Sherwood had multiple shots on the Kelowna keeper within the first 10 minutes, and solid pressure was maintained along with teammates Kendra Grant and Sarah Claeys.
Kelowna snuck two goals past keeper Jordyn Kisilevich late in the half despite her enormous efforts and good defensive moves by Jorja Catt and Allie Maltman.
The Blues maintained pressure in the second half as Emma Glasser, Claeys, Catt and Sherwood all had opportunities.
The Blues then fell 5-0 to Kelowna G with Vernon opening with some multiple assaults by Catt, Sherwood, Jessi Cleverley and Georgia Wenger. Mia Maltman was strong in net.
Vernon Tolko United Strikers played two excellent U11 Girls games Sunday in Kamloops, opening with a 1-1 draw with Kelowna S.
Vernon broke a scoreless deadlock when Kirsten Brown intercepted a Kelowna defender’s clearance and found Adelynn Hayes in the middle of the pitch. Hayes beat one defender and then the keeper to the right side.
Kelowna equalized moments later. Naomi King was superb in net, while Clara Meyer, Joelle Kohtala and Sophia Bilodeau were solid defenders.
Tolko then lost 2-1 to Kelowna G with Anna Hirschkorn putting Vernon in front in the early going after curling in a corner off the keeper.
Kelowna replied shortly after and then registered the winner with only minutes left. King and Amiee Skinner shared the goalie duties, while Macy Blades was marvellous in the midfield. Caryss Hill and Jessica Bond had bold showings on the back line.
The Vernon Blasters split their U11 Girls games in Kamloops with a 4-3 victory over Shuswap Selects 4-3 and a 4-0 loss to Kelowna.
Kristen Francks opened the scoring versus Shuswap with a beautiful shot to the top corner. Shuswap quickly matched it a minute later before Francks replied five minutes later. Vernon recorded two more goals in the second half, from Paige Cover and Jesse Mitchell.
In Game 2, Kelowna potted two quick goals. Strong play by Amy Curtis and Abby Lawlor kept it 2-0 at the break. Sadie Christensen and Makenna Jackson ran well up front.
The Tolko/Temptasian/Apple Auto Glass Whites lost 3-1 to Kelowna in other U11 Girls play, trailing 2-0 at the recess.
Sophie Dennis tallied for Vernon on a splendid solo effort with 10 minutes to play. Mia Robinson came close to a second goal as the Whites pressed until the end.
Vernon Venom posted a 2-1 win and a 2-2 tie in U11 Boys action versus Kelowna sides Sunday in Kamloops.
Keeper Mac Sorochuck came off injured reserve and stole the show with diving saves left, right and centre.
Kelowna started the offence, but Vernon retaliated as Josh Donison made a beauty cross to Braxton McDonald to level the score seconds before the half.
Vernon pulled ahead with a towering goal kick from Sorochuck clearing half the field to Mitchell Bond who ran the ball to the net and finished it nicely.
The second game was played in a mix of rain, wind and sun and the Venom started with great offensive pressure and kept the ball out of their danger zone.
After a few solid attempts to get on the board, Josh Mark fed Bond for a tap-in. McDonald set up Mark nicely for a top-cheddar snipe to make it 2-0.
Kelowna came back strong and kept Venom’s defensive line busy while counting a deuce.
Vernon U14 Boys bowed 2-1 to Kamloops at Marshall Field Sunday.
Kamloops opened the scoring before Vernon’s Matthew Reich tied it up on a nice individual play.
Keeper Jared Ross was sensational, making several dynamic saves including a penalty shot and the ensuing rebound attempt to keep United close. Kamloops notched the winner late.
Fullback Kaden Funk had a wicked game while midfielder Jack Cotter was strong on the ball and Ben Imrich was a force in the air.
Forwards Tage Kineshanko and Hayden Catt ran hard all day.
Vernon United U15 Boys did not let go easy on a 5-0 loss to the Penticton Pinnacles.
The United started with a balance of play in both ends, an organized defence, and the players staying well connected. Vernon, who worked well as a team, made several attempts on plays and on net, but the Pinnacles closed in with their first goal on a foul shot, followed by one more before ending the first half.
There was constant second-half force on United keeper Ian Oliphant, who fought hard against the pressure.