It was theirs for the taking and when Powell River Cobras U14 girls’ soccer players travelled to Richmond to battle for the Coastal Cup Championship, they were out for revenge.
On May 6, Cobras, the defending provincial cup champions, had an opportunity to capture the only major title that eluded the team last season. The coastal cup has a long and storied history and is open to all teams in the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island. Last year Cobras lost 1-0 in the final.
After defeating three teams to reach the finals the girls were set to play SurDel United from Surrey-Delta. Playing the final in Minoru Stadium was a highlight for them as it is considered to be one of the top fields in Vancouver.
With injured teammate, Emily White, on the bench providing inspiration and support, Cobras took to the field in what was a highly anticipated final.
Both teams seemed a little nervous with SurDel taking it to the Powell River girls for the first 10 minutes. Cobras then settled down and countered with some pressure of its own. Cobras’ speed up front with Calli-Ann Abbott and Rachel Horspool, complemented by outside midfielders Allahna Somji, MacKenzie Balzan, Callie McNeil, Santana Huetzelmann and Sydney Hanson, gave the SurDel defenders fits all game long.
That speed paid off halfway through the first half with a goal off a semi-breakaway. Cobras also forced its opponents into giving up many corner kicks which it parlayed into its second goal of the game.
The second half began with Cobras up 2-0. However, United didn’t get this far by rolling over and giving up. The players came out hard, attacking through the middle of the midfield. Powell River’s middle midfielders were up to the task as Brittany Harry and Braea Mayenburg held SurDel at bay for most of the game and countered with many good attacks of their own. The back line of Cassidy Ball, Ondreah Kristof, Sydney Liknes, Ricci Leitch and Emily Mayenburg turned back their opponents time after time. When SurDel occasionally managed shots on goal, goalkeeping from Destiny Dendewicz and Elise Hocking preserved the shutout and enabled Cobras to claim its first Coastal Cup Championship.
