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United U12s on a roll

Vernon United VUB posted two Thompson Okanagan U12 Boys Rep Development Soccer League wins Sunday.
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Vernon United VUB took a pair of Thompson Okanagan U12 Boys Development Soccer League wins Sunday.

VUB took to the pitch under sunny skies at Kings Park in Penticton and posted a 3-2 victory over the Shuswap Selects, getting an early strike from Mitchell Bond.

Salmon Arm slipped one past the Vernon keeper on a corner to level the score. Vernon applied strong offensive pressure but the Selects produced the go-ahead goal.

Some impressive dribbling and fancy footwork from Eric Anderson resulted in the equalizer for Vernon. Luca Ariano supplied the winner after multiple United chances.

After a quick 60-minute break to refuel and re-energize, Vernon kicked off against a Kelowna team and won 7-3 despite giving up the first goal at two minutes.

Bond responded right away with a solo effort, while Mathew Acob followed with the 2-1 tally. Bond, Acob and Anderson each finished with deuces, while Ariano added a single. Vernon’s defence was dynamic through both games. Rowan Smith, James Richardson, Mathew Hill-Turner and Jerome Winter were tough on the ball in Vernon’s end and successfully won several tackles. Kailen Russell, Rowan Calder and Henry Routley were solid offensively and keeper Mac Sorochuk was hard to beat.

United u13 Boys shaded the Shuswap Selects 3-2 in Salmon Arm and tied visiting Revelstoke Avalanche 1-1.

Justin Ruscheinsky and Jonathan Fraser-Monroe shared net duties in the win, fronted by a solid defensive line of Liam Collins, Alex Kazimer and Marcus Petersen.

Carter Leahy sent a cross to Cash Anderson, who tapped in a rebound to start the scoring. Alexander Jones scored on a free kick but Shuswap answered with a pair to equalize before the break. Kazimer fed Leahy, who found Anderson for the winner early in the final half.

On Sunday at home, the teams battled through a scoreless first half with Marcus Erho, Landon Janke and Kolby Thorpe taking numerous solid shots on goal.

Deep into the second half, supported by Cam Acob, Levi Koroll and Zach Loland, Leahy converted. Owen Challen, Jonah Strachan, Tate Garrod and Justin Arsenault applied further pressure, but Revelstoke levelled things with 10 minutes remaining.

Vernon United bowed 4-1 to Kamloops Blaze in U14 Boys Rep play Sunday at MacDonald Park.

Kamloops scored in the first 15 minutes, but Vernon kept up the pace and Dominic Peterson buried a corker for the equalizer in the 30th minute after a nice build-up.

Kamloops converted a free kick past keeper Gage Stoll in the second half for the winner and added two more insurance tallies.

The Vernon back line worked hard the entire game ensuring the score did not go any higher. Solid defensive play came from Hakan Akkurt, Ty Bartel, Josiah Falk, Cole Ogasawara, and standout Marc Hesketh.

The Tolko United U11 Boys (Team Lockwood) lost 9-2 to the host Kamloops Blaze and then fell 4-3 to Kelowna United V Sunday at Todd Hill Park in Kamloops

Vernon was in the hole 7-0 at the half versus Kamloops, but the boys regrouped, settled down and tied the second half 2-2 thanks to some determined goalkeeping from Alistair Meyer, patient defending from the back line of Ethan Nikoli, Dane Beaton, Luka Romero and Alex Sewell and goals from Lyndon Carleton and William Russell.

Game 2 against Kelowna United V was Team Lockwood’s best game of the season. United came out strong, positive and playing as a team. Though they were down 3-0 at the half, they kept pressing and tied it with five minutes left. Kelowna counted the winner in the last minute.

Goals by James Lockwood and Griffin Trickey were the result of excellent team play, brilliant passing and patient defence. Charlie and William Erickson had strong games as attackers and Trickey continued his role as team anchor and man of a thousand positions.

The Tolko United Team #2 lost two tough matches against physical opposition in Kamloops and they are looking at their first two losses of the season as important for their long-term development.

In Game 1 versus Kelowna, Vernon struggled early and trailed deeply at the half. United started the second half with team spirit and higher energy. Jeffrey Curtis and Alessandro Durfeld were outstanding in the midfield. United’s determination was rewarded when Curtis played a through ball to Thomas Nice, who side-stepped a Kelowna defender and blasted a quick shot bottom corner. Tolko dominated possession in the final 20 minutes leading to many build-up plays.

In Game 2 versus Shuswap, United started confidently and missed a couple of early chances. Ford Race, Conrad Halloran and Tristan Driedzic tightened up their defence and kept the game close. Ford shut down the Shuswap attack with good anticipation, hard work and defensive positioning. Ford played an exceptional game and started a counterattack goal by springing Logan Andrew free into the Shuswap half. Andrew finished the long run with a toe-poke.