It was dome sweet dome last week for the Sunshine Coast U13 Predators.
The rep soccer team travelled to Vancouver for the BMO mini-soccer six-a-side festival at B.C. Place Stadium and pushed back lots of stiff competition en route to the tournament championship.
The Predators first game was against the Guildford Force from Surrey. The game was tight with the score tied 2-2 at the half. Jordan Hoy and Andy Blattler scored for the Predators. The Predators dominated the second half with goals from Zach Karmel and Andy with his second to take the game in the 4-2 win. Elvis Lu was strong on the backline.
In the second game of the day, the Predators took on the tall and aggressive squad in Whalley United. Whalley opened the scoring, but Elvis evened the score before the half, getting the rebound from a saved penalty shot. The Predators took the lead early in the second half when Lee Gye blasted his shot into the top corner of the net. Whalley tied the game seven minutes from the end on a breakaway to make the final 2-2. Kyle Reid was strong in goal and Jacob Bland played a strong game in the hard-fought contest.
The Predators took on the Surrey United Blasters in their third game of the event. The Predators found themselves down after four seconds as the Blasters lived up to their name by blasting the opening kickoff into the Predators goal.
Elliot Cayer tied the game for the Predators three minutes later, but the Blasters again took the lead, converting a penalty shot. Lee evened the score before the half for the Predators.
Jordan put the Predators ahead by deflecting a pass from Elvis into the net, while Andy tucked in an insurance goal on a great pass from Evan Sorensen to make the final 4-2 for the Predators.
The final game had the Predators facing the Mission Rebels.
The Predators needed to win the game and score at least three goals to take the championship.
In the first minute of the game, Zach put the Predators ahead by tapping in a corner kick. Four minutes later Elliot put the Predators ahead by two by scoring in a scramble after a corner kick. The Predators went ahead by three before the half as Zach beat three defenders to score a pretty goal. Mission pulled to within a goal in the second half, making for some nervous moments in the last minutes of the game. Kelly McKee played a strong game and narrowly missed scoring on a number of chances, and Shale Douglas was strong on defence. The Predators hung on for a 3-2 win to take the championship medals. All the boys played well after the lengthy break for bad weather and Christmas in what was an exciting and well-organized event.
