Vernon Tolko United U14 girls played to draws in their final two games of the annual Slurpee Cup youth soccer tournament in Kamloops on the May long weekend.
Tolko, coached by Greg Routley and Niko Siedmann, finished the event with two losses and two ties.
Vernon fell 2-1 to the Quesnel Strykers in their opening contest. Ashlyn Funston, Bella Gudeit and Ofelia Thompson placed the Quesnel opponents under pressure while Charlotte Routley, Emily Boyd and Peyton Siedmann challenged players with ferocity. Boyd connected for United’s only goal. Jaimee Thomas had a strong game in the Vernon net.
Defenders Abby Ellis, Juliette Freathy, and Danika Vienneau moved the ball effectively up the field.
Next up was an inter-provincial battle with Alberta’s St. Albert Lions Academy, who won the match 4-0. Tolko defenders Carmel Durfield and Hallie Cameron worked hard to secure their net, June Platje, Macy Gislason and Brooklyn Bergman had terrific footwork, with Gudeit and Jaydyn Packwood working hard to keep and win possession.
The third game put Tolko neck in neck with Okanagan rivals, the Kamloops Blaze. Boyd and Routley got shots on net with Thompson scoring the team’s only goal in a game that ended 1-1. Packwood and Rielle Marcotte had solid passing, while Freathy, Ellis, and Vienneau kept composure and strong control in the defensive zone. Terrific footwork by Funston and Siedmann helped guide the team to the draw.
The last game saw a Tolko rematch, this time with goalie Thomas and tough defenders Cameron and Durfield. No goals were conceded during this match. Gislason and Platje brought the team strength, good breaks and passes. Bergman and Marcotte provided both communication and determination.
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roger@vernonmorningstar.com
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