Morning Star Staff
Vernon Tolko United lost a 5-4 thriller to the Kamloops Blaze in Thompson Okanagan Under 15 Girls Rep Soccer League action Sunday at MacArthur Island Sports Centre.
Two minutes in, Brianna Bobbitt’s fancy footwork earned her the first goal assisted by Kelsey Carriere. Mariya Blades scored the second goal on a breakaway, finishing with a low, hard blast to the bottom corner, assisted by Bobbitt.
Blades then fed a solid pass to Mekena Kersey, who buried a left-footer from outside the 18. Gabby Triggs, Carly Southam, Nadia Smith and Sydney Bergman made up a solid back line.
Kelsey Carriere and Sierrra Folk controlled center midfield creating lots of opportunities for forwards Blades and Keira Correia. Danica Ariano shared keeper duties with Gabby Triggs.
It was 3-3 at the break with Kamloops going up by a deuce early in the final half. Jayden Strachan set up Blades’ goal with a great cross and the final Tolko goal.
Bobbitt showed awesome ball control in center midfield, while Elena Gaskell stood out on the left wing with her powerful crosses.
Tolko United lost 1-0 to Kelowna in U13 Girls Rep play.
A Kelowna free kick at the top of the 18 midway through the second half just escaped the hands of keeper Brianna Li.
With the team short on subs, Abigail King and Kate McIntosh had little to no rest and did a tremendous job grinding it out defensively.
King exercised endurance as she was put to the test but maintained high-octane defending running down Kelowna forwards for the full match.
Dylan Sidhu’s huge defensive effort to knock out Kelowna’s only other scoring opportunity kept Vernon’s chances alive late.
On the offensive side, superb speed and footwork by Sydney Torrie produced some chances.and with just minutes remaining, a corner from Kate McIntosh found its way back to Sidhu, who narrowly missed levelling the score.
The Vernon United Tolko Temptasian Apple Auto Glass U12 Whites lost 2-1 to the Kelowna Lightning to jumpstart Sunday play.
The first half remained scoreless despite multiple shots by Kaitlyn Budgen, Jessi Cleverley, and Sarah Claeys.
The Apple Auto gang kept pressuring in the final 30 minutes with Lily Lee and Mia Hyer enjoying chances before Lee converted with 10 minutes to play. Kelowna bagged a pair in the final five minutes.
Vernon then bowed 4-0 to the Kelowna Crushers despite a gritty effort.
The Crushers registered a couple of early quick goals but the stellar saves of keeper Jordyn Kisilevich and the solid defensive wall put up by Emma Glasser and Allie Maltman kept the Crushers in check until the last minutes of the match. Claeys, Mia Maltman, Sophie Dennis and Lee tested the Crusher keeper with some stunning plays.
Vernon U11 Strikers split a pair, beating host Kamloops H 3-2 and losing 3-2 to Kelowna S.
Some excellent passes from Ashlee Befus and Abby Lawlor allowed Kristen Francks to log a hat trick in the win. Defenders Jessica Bond and Clara Myer and a huge save in the final minutes by Naomi King secured the win.
McKenna Jackson was all alone in front and scored, while Lawlor scored on a cross from Francks in the loss.
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