Playing Vancouver’s Hurricanes at Picadilly Field last weekend, Sunshine Coast United kicked it up a notch and went toe-to-toe for 60 minutes.
The Hurricanes opened the scoring midway through the first half. But coming back strong, Alex Hart passed one up to Owen Watson, which just missed the left post.
The Hurricanes had another good opportunity, but United’s strong defensive line of Sierra Ryden, Taiyo Blackwell, Colby Elson and Alex Hart foiled the chance.
With just a few minutes remaining before halftime, Owen had another great chance with a direct shot that hit the post.
Just seconds later, Brett Bjornson went head-to-head with the Hurricanes’ goalie, and the ball just trickled through the goalie’s feet and bounced off the post again and out.
With great anticipation, pressure on, and the Hurricanes up by one, United came out hungry in the second half.
United had three more close shots, each ringing loud off the posts, but finally Brett came through with the equalizer, assisted by Callum Christiansen.
United’s goalie Cameron Wentzell held strong and shut Vancouver down, keeping the game at a 1-1 tie.
United’s next game is this Saturday, Jan. 17 in Vancouver.
U16 boys
The Scorpions continue to thrive despite having a shortage of players due to injuries and illness.
The 10 healthy — and somewhat healthy — players who took to the field last Saturday, Jan. 10 for the first game of the year played their hearts and lungs out to capture a 3 – 1 win over the South Burnaby Timbers.
Burnaby arrived 17 players strong, but the Scorpions were defiant.
A first-half goal by Ben Luporini after a great pass from Xavier Benjamin held for most of the game until the Timbers scored on a lovely second-half shot.
Keeper Keeran Peel made several difficult stops — including a lovely curving crossing shot from the Timbers’ left winger — but this shot was so perfect it got past him.
Throughout the game, the Scorpions kept up an unwavering defence, with Jordan Kammerle and Liam Ranking switching back and forth from forward to last back throughout the game and Philip Fogarty making several crucial tackles.
The forward line worked hard to come back when needed and that limited the attacks by the Timbers considerably. Midfielder Evan Griffin had an outstanding game, at one point taking a beautiful shot on a break away that the Timbers’ keeper just managed to get a hand on.
Wingers Bryce Pierre and Jacob Simkins worked hard to carry the ball up the field and onto Xavier, Ben, Liam, Jordan and Duncan Armstrong, who scored on a penalty kick and made a great cross to Jordan who put the ball to the back of the net for the final goal of the game.
The Scorpions play in Burnaby this Saturday and are back at Kinnikinnick on Sunday at 11:30 a.m. for the first round of the Provincial B qualifying tournament. Please come and cheer them on.
