Sitas emerged victorious from the Men’s Over-30s’ soccer league tournament, hosted last weekend by the Sechelt Indian Band at Ted Dixon field. The annual tournament caps a six-month season, which this year saw the Chiefs top the league standings, followed in second and third by the Wolves and Pender.
Sitas qualified for the final the hard way, having to come from a goal down to beat Gibsons, then beating the Chiefs and the Wolves. On Sunday versus Pender, they found themselves a goal down again before Sitas’ Stefan Lemieux headed an equalizer to force the game into extra time.
With two minutes remaining and the dreaded penalty shootout looming, Rudy Contreras played hero by scoring on a breakaway to win it for Sitas. Pender goalie Al Stewart, who had pulled off a string of amazing saves, could only palm the ball against the post before it nestled in the back of the net.
The final reflected a close-fought tournament for all six teams, with all but one game being decided by a single goal. Games were played in a positive spirit and credit to the Sechelt Nation for hosting such a well-organized event. Credit also goes to league president and Pender captain Richard Massullo and to the refs who make games possible.
– Submitted
