Intense is one way to describe the soccer match between Under-15 Powell River Panthers and Juan de Fuca on Sunday, April 9, at Brooks Secondary School. After regular time ended with the game tied 1-1, the home team claimed the Vancouver Island B Cup on penalty kicks.
“It was a hard battle all the way through,” said Panthers’ coach Tony Rice. “We probably should have won in regulation, but we didn’t finish some chances. It was exciting for everybody at the end, that’s for sure.”
Panthers were up 1-0 after five minutes on a goal by Jonathan Ulrich.
“We had a couple of chances to get a second or third goal before halftime, which would have definitely changed things,” said Rice.
Juan de Fuca came back hard in the second half and put the Panthers under pressure, tying the game on a header. Ulrich also converted the winning penalty kick.
“The kids will be better for it,” said Rice. “It’s one of those games they’ll never forget.”
Panthers now advance to the Under-15 provincials from July 6 to 9 in Vernon. Rice has a veteran team, 14 of whom have been together for three years.
Panthers will play Juan de Fuca again on April 28 in Duncan for the Island Invitational Cup.
“We beat them last year in the Island Invitational final,” said Rice. “This is the second time we’ve played them, second time we’ve gone to penalties and second time we’ve beaten them.”
Although the Panthers came close on previous occasions, the soccer team was unsuccessful in its attempts to advance to provincials before this year.
