The U18 girls House league had their year-end soccer tournament March 12 and 13. After the first day of round robin play Sundays semifinal matchups were set. First place in their pool was Shannon Reid's Brigade up against Gord Dieroff's White team. Brigade scored early and often in its 3-1 win.
In the other semifinal, league-leading Jason Whyte's Red Thunder was up against Brent Sheppard's Pender Reunited.
Michele Jakzuk scored first to give Red Thunder the early lead, but Pender's Mackenzie Stewart tied up the score with a gritty effort to beat the Red keeper.
Pender's keeper Brittany Sheppard scored the game winner with a 25-yard direct kick she buried into the back of the net. Pender scored one more for good measure winning 3-1.
In the final game Brigade and Reunited couldn't solve anything after 70 minutes of play. Rotating through the substitutes, the Brigade continued to attack Pender's goal with their strongforwards and had their share of chances, but Pender's keeper stood tall. The momentum shifted back and forth, but overtime was inevitable.
Early in the overtime, Pender's top goal scorer, Samantha Howitt suffered a serious ankle injury and was taken from the field in an ambulance. Now shorthanded, Pender had their work cut out for them. At the end of overtime nothing was solved. Five girls were picked from each team to participate in the shootout. Both goalies were stellar stopping two shots each. Carley Fieldingcracked one in the top left corner to put Pender up by one, but the Brigade answered back tying up the score. The last shot of the shootout went to Pender as Brittany blasted a low hard shot to the right side. The Brigades keeper made a valiant effort coming so close to make the save, but the damage had be done and Pender won the title.
- Submitted