Powell River Edge under-18 girls’ soccer team followed up its impressive victory over Victoria’s Prospect Lake in its BC Soccer Provincial Cup qualifying match a couple of weeks ago with a repeat performance over Bays United in the 51st annual Vancouver Island Cup Championship held in Saanich Sunday, April 19.
The Powell River girls travelled with a short roster as six could not make the trip leaving the other 13 to bring home the gold. Their opponents were the high-scoring Lower Island league champions.
The Edge started out quickly carrying the play and was rewarded with an early goal off the red-hot boot of Brittany Harry. Harry’s partner up front, Rachel Horspool, made it a two-goal lead scoring off a corner kick about halfway through the half. With the two-goal lead the Powell River girls continued the pressure however couldn’t expand on the lead as they went into the half-time break.
The break gave Bays the opportunity to regroup and it came out flying. It pressured the Edge into some uncharacteristic giveaways and finally broke the shutout with a well-placed shot giving keeper Destiny Dendewicz no chance. This really gave the host life as it continued to push hard, however the Edge regained the two-goal advantage with a rocket from Braea Mayenburg from about 25 yards out, cleanly beating the Bays’ netminder. Both teams shared a couple of chances as time ran out.
The Edge, comprising of Dendewicz in goal, a strong back line of Ricci Leitch, Sydney Liknes, Mackenzie Balzan, Cassidy Ball and Dyan MacNeill, a hard-working midfield of Mayenburg, Robin Thomas, Allahna Somji, Lynne McDonald, Santana Huetzelmann and a dangerous duo of strikers, Harry and Horspool secured the coveted 51st annual Vancouver Island Cup Championship for under-18 girls. Both teams worked extremely hard for the full 90 minutes and those supporters watching were treated to a game packed with skill and good sportsmanship.
Next for the Edge is a Coastal Cup semifinal match at home against Chilliwack, 1 pm Sunday, April 26, at Cranberry Field.
