Riptides U15 Boys soccer club (5-0) and Saanich Fusion (5-0) met in Comox for a match between two unbeaten teams playing in the Vancouver Island Premier League.
Overcast skies with a fresh crispness in the air were wonderful conditions for a battle marking the half-way point in the regular season, and it was a superb match.
The opening few minutes saw an aggressive Riptide side set the pace with good ball handling, quick passes and brief charges into the Saanich half. These efforts, though promising, were broken up by a solid Saanich defensive line. Gaining confidence, Saanich upped its tempo and pressed the attack with opportunities that were extinguished by the Riptides’ equally stout defence, led on this afternoon by Declan Arnold’s calm clearing play whenever the Saanich assault was strongest.
So went the play, back and forth, with each side running into solid defence that had allowed a combined four goals in their previous 10 matches.
By far the greatest opportunity to open scoring was Karson Kroetsch’s header in the first half. Not five yards from the dead centre of the net on a perfect pass, Kroetsch’s header missed by inches. He will be having nightmares of that missed chance for weeks to come.
Numerous penalties set the tone for the match. Any time jerseys brushed, the whistle blew, however there is no denying it blew fairly for each side.
True to form, at the 74th minute it was a rough tripping penalty by a Saanich defender that determined the outcome. From 41 metres out, Powell River’s Ben Payne struck a high arching kick across the box and behind the Saanich back line. Waiting was Travis Brown whose beautiful header found the back of the net. Moments earlier, Brown, on the sidelines, pleaded with coach Henry Roller to put him in to score on a header. Final score, 1-0.
“Saanich is the mirror image of the Riptides,” said Roller. “They have a big, talented and fast defensive line, as is our defence and their forwards are also creative and skillful, as are ours.”
It is fitting the game would be decided by one goal between two very even sides. Following the game, coach Roller addressed the team. “Now the hard work begins,” he said. “Next week marks the start of the second half and the games will become much more difficult. Remember, our final match is against Saanich.”
Bruno Cristante, assistant coach, echoed Roller’s comments, “So far the practices have been intense. Now they go to a new level.”
