With the biggest weekend of their season approaching, the flu bug and injuries hit the U13 Scorpions boys hard last week.
Saturday the Scorpions played at home against the Vancouver Cobras, and with a win, could have clinched the league title.
In the miserable rain, the Scorpions kept the ball in the attacking zone for the first 10 minutes of the game. The home team pelted the goal with outside shots that sailed to the right, left or over the net.
Against the flow of the play, a Cobras goal kick sent their team on the attack Two Cobras rushed in and shot a rocket at the goal. Goalie Xavier Benjamin flew through the air and blocked the sure thing, but landed hard on the ground, the ball still loose. Before the keeper and defence could get back into position, the Cobras snuck the ball into the Scorpions net.
The determined Scorpions charged the Cobras net desperate to tie it up.
Jordan Kammerle, running hard with the ball, was taken down in the box by a Cobra. The Scorpions were awarded a penalty shot. Bradley Huddlestone, who has never missed a penalty kick, kept his streak going and tied up the game for the Scorpions.
In the second half, Scor-pions d-men Evan Griffin, Gabe Goerzen, Cole Cooney, Philip Fogarty and Tristan Tidder continued to stop the Cobras attempts to enter the zone. Their long passes fed the Scorpions assault as they continued their dominance of the game with shot after shot towards the Cobras net. All that were on target were snapped up by their sharp keeper. The game ended in a 1-1 draw, with the league title still undetermined.
On Sunday the Scorpions played a winner-take-all North Shore U13 Gold Cup final against the West Vancouver Spuraways.
The Spuraways defence broke down early in the match. Everett August sent Duncan Armstrong away with a sweet pass, and with that, the Scorpions had their first goal.
Soon after, Quin Towert found himself on a breakaway, but a West Van defender caught him just as he let his shot go. Then the Scorpions let off the gas.
Perhaps it was fatigue or nerves or having defeated the Spuraways handily twice already this season, but whatever it was, it resulted in a Spuraways goal late in the first half.
The Scorpions regrouped in the second half and started to look a little more organized and determined. Ben Luporini ran hard down the wing and fought to keep the ball in the attacking zone. Keegan Inkster used his speed and size to advance the play. Justin Fodchuk got off a volley shot that didn't quite make it.
Finally the pressure was too much for the Spuraways and Liam Rankin placed the ball decisively in the back of the net.
Soon after, the Spura-ways, energized by the goal, mounted a counter-attack and got off a hard shot at the Scorpions net. As time froze and fans held their breath, Xavier made the save of the year, clinching the 2-1 win and earning the Scorpions a berth in the Provincial B Cup.
The Scorpions play their last league game of the season on Saturday against the same Spuraways team, and a win will give them the league title.
- Submitted
