Powell River youth soccer’s Edge Under 18 girls’ soccer team recently travelled to Victoria to play the Lower Island “B” cup champions, Prospect Lake Lakers. The Edge knew it needed to fight tough as not only does Prospect Lake play in a good eight-team league, it is also defending BC Soccer Provincial Cup silver medalists.
The Edge, consisting of a mix of under-17 and under-18 girls who have all tasted gold at the BC Soccer Provincial championship over the past few years, started out strong while a large number of fans watched from the sidelines on a beautiful Victoria morning.
Powell River supporters were pleased to see the Edge carry the play to its hosts and within the sixth minute had the opening goal off the foot of Brittany Harry. The intensity and skill of Powell River seemed to surprise the Lakers and with continued pressure the Edge forced turnovers. Eventually frustration took over and Harry was taken down in the penalty area. She blasted home the penalty shot to give Powell River a 2-0 lead.
To Victoria’s credit it didn’t give up and countered with a goal of its own on a breakaway in the dying minutes of the first half. Although not usually a good time to surrender a goal it worked out well as Powell River had a chance to catch its breath and get re-organized. The girls did just that, and within five minutes of the start of the second half Harry was up to her old tricks as she potted her third goal of the match. This demoralized the Lakers and about half-way through the half Harry continued her streak with a blast that caught the top corner giving the keeper no chance.
The Edge never relented and kept up the intense pressure keeping to the game plan for the complete 90 minutes and when the referee blew the final whistle, the Edge had a 4-1 victory and a ticket to BC Soccer’s “B” cup championships in Penticton this July.
Every member of the Edge played a huge part in the victory as each played her best game of the season. Three members of the team were unavailable for this game but have contributed all season: Callie McNeil, Lynne McDonald and Mary Maguire. Destiny Dendewicz was solid in net catching everything that came her way. On the back line Ricci Leitch, Sydney Liknes, Alexis Beauregard, Cassidy Ball, Mackenzie Balzan and Dyan MacNeill were invincible as they turned back the strong Lakers’ attack all game long. Filling up the middle of the park was Justine Decock, Robin Thomas, Braea Mayenburg, Sydni Long, Allahna Somji, Sophia Lazaroff, Sharlene Timothy and Santana Huetzelmann. The two strikers who gave the opposition fits all game were Harry and Rachel Horspool.
Next up for this talented group is the Island Finals the third weekend in April with a Coastal Cup qualifier the following weekend at home.
