There was some outstanding competition at the soccer park, as 100 Mile House hosted teams from Prince George, Quesnel and Williams Lake in Cariboo Youth Soccer League action, May 13.
It was a perfect day for soccer under sunny skies with a light breeze. All pitches were full of action and spectators were cheering wildly with every offensive
thrust and defensive standoff.
100 Mile U16 girls played the Williams Lake U15 squad to a scoreless draw, with most of the play in the Prince George end.
100 Mile looked strong in the second half, but could not put the goal in the net, coach John Park says, adding Megan Cole suffered an ankle injury and missed the
end of the game.
They lost their second game 2-1 against Quesnel U16. Courtney Delinsky scored on a penalty shot 10 minutes into the game.
With the score knotted at one apiece, Quesnel had a penalty shot about halfway through the second and missed. However, they got winning goal with a little
over five minutes on the clock.
Taylor Blades was the goalie for both and did an
excellent job, says Park.
The 100 Mile U14 girls played against Prince George U14 and lost 3-0. However, manager Pam Easton says it was an evenly matched, defensive
game, with few shots by either side.
Their second game was against Quesnel U14, and they lost 2-0. The 100 Mile squad had good energy in the first half of the game, Easton says, adding the girls stepped up their team play with some really
good passing in this game.
The 100 Mile U12 girls’ first game was a 3-0 loss against Williams Lake U12 girls. It was a hard, physical game, coach Lianne Heales says, but the local girls kept their composure and played a good team game.
Allison Carr and Rachel Cross shared the goal-tending duties, and both were outstanding, Heales adds.
“Allison's quick thinking and big goal kicks started a number of rushes out of our end. Rachel made a diving save at the start of the second half, stripping the opposition of the ball and shutting down Williams Lake for the remainder of the game.”
In the second game, they played Quesnel U12 girls and lost 2-0. Heather Heales and Courtney Cave were aggressive and dramatic in goal, the coach says, keeping the game tight.
“It was back-and-forth with a few missed chances by 100 Mile, but it was a great effort. Emma Lee Feistmantl and Grace Rayfield were outstanding, as they used their speed and strength to create some great chances.”
Heales notes Nishelle Parkins showed a lot of heart, as she played the whole game with
a sprained ankle without her coach knowing about it.
The U12 boys won 5-3 against Quesnel in their first game, and Ryan Wallace collected the victory in goal. Coach Ian Collinson says they were well positioned and played a disciplined game.
They won 2-1 against Prince George in their second game which saw Cameron Ardiel and Dillon Carr sharing goalie duties.
Collinson says his players were much more confident, but it was a hard-fought game. Both teams struggled to keep possession and neither team dominated, he adds.
100 Mile goals were scored by Caleb Patterson and Reid Collinson.