Powell River Cobras under-15 girls’ soccer team travelled to North Vancouver during the first week of July to defend its BC soccer association provincial championship. As two-time defending champions all of the opponents were pumped up to knock Cobras off top spot.
First match for Cobras was against the host team, Squamish Fireballs. Cobras knew their opponents would be tough. Scoring first was a priority and that goal was accomplished, however, they gave up an unexpected one which really woke the champions up. They turned their game up a notch and walked away with a 4-1 victory.
The next day’s action saw the Cobras match up against a very talented Vernon squad. Vernon was big, quick and aggressive and had Powell River on its heels for most of the game. The Cobras waited for their counterattack opportunities. Most believed the winner would probably end up in the gold-medal match so when Vernon scored first the pressure was really on the Cobras. True to their play all season long, the Cobras did not give up and eventually tied the score with a goal of their own. When the final whistle blew both teams were tired but knew that the following day’s games would decide who would advance. Both Vernon and Powell River were tied in every facet of the tie-breaker system, goal difference, goals against and goals for.
The Cobras took to the field first against Terrace. Vernon would play later that day and had the advantage of knowing what they would need in terms of the score to advance. Terrace understood that a victory over the champions would vault them into a medal game as well so they came out hard against the Cobras. Powell River opened the scoring early only to have Terrace find the net shortly after. Cobras then scored another to get them to half time with a slim 2-1 edge. Terrace opened the second half on fire and threw everything they had at the Cobras, bending the Cobras defensively but not breaking their resolve. Then with only minutes left, with the Cobras really wanting to pad their goal differential, they exploded for three quick goals and cruised to a 5-1 victory.
This meant Vernon needed to win by at least four goals to tie the Cobras and five to advance directly to the gold-medal match. Vernon played a Squamish team that had yet to win a game and opened up an early 2-0 lead, however Squamish got one back and the half ended 2-1. Both teams played very well with Vernon showing why it was the top team out of the Okanagan by banging in two more goals. Squamish would not cede any more, however, and Vernon won 4-1 falling short of its goal and dropping to the bronze-medal game.
Cobras met West Vancouver in the final to play for the championship and both teams came out of the gate full speed ahead as they knew each other well from playing various times over the past three years. West Vancouver opened the scoring on a well-placed shot from about 20 yards out. Down 1-0 at the half the Cobras continued to fight back and had a great chance on a free kick from just outside the penalty area that deflected off the cross bar. It was hit with such pace that the goalkeeper didn’t even have time to move. This would be the Cobras’ last chance though as they fell 1-0 to a very talented and determined West Vancouver team.
Cobras finished off another amazing season gathering gold at the island and coastal finals and silver at the provincials. The team members Destiny Dendewicz, Ricci Leitch, Cassidy Ball, Sydney Liknes, Emily Mayenburg, Mackenzie Balzan, Sydney Hanson, Santana Huetzelmann, Sharlene Timothy, Callie McNeil, Allahna Somji, Braea Mayenburg, Brittany Harry, Ondreah Kristof, Rachel Horspool and Erin Broughton are grateful to their parents and guardians for their support and to all those who so generously helped in their fundraising ventures which enabled all of them to participate in their fantastic season.
