The Port Alberni Athletics U14 Girls soccer team have been crowned champions of Vancouver Island.
On Saturday, April 9 in Comox, the Athletics played a previously unbeaten team from Peninsula in Victoria in the 52nd Annual Island Cup.
The day began with the Canadian Forces Snowbirds performing overhead Valleyview fields in Comox (they’re in town for annual spring training). The game began well, with the Athletics carrying the action for most of the first half.
Victoria opened the scoring to lead 1-0, but shortly afterwards the Athletics pressed in the opposition’s end, resulting in an “own goal” by Victoria.
The second half was even again, until Victoria scored a nice goal on a long shot from well outside the goal area, with about 10 minutes remaining.
The Athletics kept working, and were rewarded a free kick, also from well outside the goal, with minimal time remaining. An Athletics’ player delivered her own long range bomb that just kept going, and then went in. It turned out that there were only about 10 seconds left at that point, resulting in a penalty kick shootout to determine the victor.
Victoria shot first, but the Athletics’ keeper made a great save. The Athletics then scored their first shot. Victoria scored on their second, as did the Athletics, to make it 2-1.
Victoria scored and their keeper stopped the Athletics’ third shot. Victoria then hit the post and the Athletics scored on their fourth shot to go ahead 3-2.
The Athletics’ keeper stopped the final Victoria shot, resulting in the Athletics’ victory.