Injuries and absences finally caught up with Sunshine Coast United on Saturday, as the U13 boys lost their first game of the season 2-0 to the visiting South Burnaby Gunners.
Victory would have propelled United to the final of the Commonwealth Cup next March, with a chance to advance to provincials. That chance will have to wait for next season. The boys return to Silver league play this weekend and will be on the road versus the Douglas Park Eagles.
U15 boys
The Predators took on Squamish FC in Squamish last weekend in the second round of the league cup.
The Predators dominated the first half, playing their signature passing game and keeping the ball away from Squamish. Predators generated a number of great scoring chances, includingopportunities by Elvis Lu and Shale Douglas, but could not open the scoring, so the score remained 0-0 at the half.
The Predators stormed the Squamish net early in the second half. Finally, six minutes in, Matthew Brenholen took a good shot from the edge of the penalty area that the Squamish goalie dove to stop. Evan Sorensen pounced on the rebound and blasted it into the net to give the Predators the lead.
With Darryl Julius feeding good crosses into the goal mouth, the chances continued with James Newton having a goal called back and Tyler Jennens missing a chance from close range.
Twenty minutes from the end, central midfielder Andy Blattler was involved in a collision that resulted in a broken leg and an early end tohis season. The Predators held on to the end for their fallen teammate with the final being a 1-0 win. Jacques Martiquet and Jake Gjerdalen were strong in what was the Predators best played game of the year.
U14 girls
Inferno played a soggy, cold game at William Griffin turf field on the North Shore last Sunday against the same North Shore team they beat just three weeks ago.
Inferno scored the first goal about 10 minutes in off a nice through pass from Maryah Paul to Avery Struck, who then neatly put the wet ball through the goalie's hands. Adrenaline replied with two quick goals, however, and the first half finished 2-1.
In the second half, Inferno started slowly and Adrenaline managed to win most of the 50/50 balls. Sydney Downie and Chloe Murphy both had strong games on defence, playing a smart, heads-up game. The second half was scoreless, resulting in Inferno's first loss of the season.
U14 boys
In a 4-1 defeat against visiting Van-couver Killarney last weekend, the Spartans met their match.
In the first half, the Spartans appeared to have the upper hand, but Killarney stepped up and tightened their passing game and drove in two goals.
Netminders for both teams were put to the test with Spartans' own Jordan Wilson snagging some particularly challenging shots. Miles Lavigne and Wei Lau launched fearlessly into frequent frays in front of Killarney's net where Jordan poked one in for the Spartans. Killarney held strong, however, and battled for another two goals and the win.
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