Powell River Surge under 14 girls’ rep soccer team represented the Upper Island Soccer Association in the Island Invitational Cup recently in Victoria.
Having qualified for the invitational by defeating the other under 14 clubs from the upper island, Surge took on the Lower Island reps, Peninsula Soccer Club, in a one-game battle for the Island Cup.
The game was played on the University of Victoria turf under sunny skies. Surge had played Peninsula a month before and beat them 1-0 to qualify for the provincials in July. This game started as the last one did with both teams being very tentative and battling through the midfield. The first real breakthrough came when Katie Tuba was able to get enough space to unleash a wicked shot from 22 yards which careened off the bar and straight down on the wrong side of the line. Surge had a few other half chances to score but the game went into half time with the score tied 0-0.
The opening goal came at about the 50-minute mark when Maddie Yule burst through on a nicely played ball from the midfield and was able to fire a low shot past the Peninsula keeper. The game remained close with lots of physical play but Surge goalie Hope Lechner and a rock solid Surge defence were able to keep Peninsula scorers at bay.
The game finished 1-0 for Powell River Surge who were crowned 2013 Island Invitational Cup Champions. Bayley Hollingsworth was chosen as Surge’s most valuable player for her great holding of the ball and tenacious tracking on defence. Surge will now take a month long break before gearing up for the provincials in July.
Team members are: Defenders; Lauren Mander, Sylena Romanyshyn, Tyannika Lam, Kiely Tietzen and Darian Gaudet; Midfielders: Tuba, Sydney Rairie, Melinda Boyd, Leive Kaptein and Kate Fisher; Forwards: Hollingsworth, Hannah Pedersen, Yule and Josie Maguire; Goalie: Lechner. Injured players were Meggan Skorey, Ciara Maguire and Emily Labree.
