The L.V. Rogers boys soccer team headed to Summerland over the weekend and after some impressive play returned home with bronze medals.
The boys side faced a brutal Thursday that saw them engaged in three games.
The day started with a contest against the host Summerland Secondary squad. LVR dominated the first half of play, but when the whistle blew for halftime the score was knotted at zeroes.
The second half was much like the first with LVR controlling most of the play. Finally with about 10 minutes to go the deadlock was broken when Greg Syvertson played in a deep cross to the far post that Ryan Lewis nicely finished with a misdirecting header from eight yards out. Goaltender Andrew Woodward ensured the game stayed that way to earn the shutout.
The second game on Thursday was against local rivals Prince Charles Secondary from Creston.
After about five minutes Creston went up 1-0 thanks to a bit of sloppy defending and a strong finish from one of their strikers. The score stayed 1-0 until the half.
The second half started with LVR completely dictating the game and pushing for a goal. About 10 minutes in Luis Loeschnik had a shot saved by the Creston goalkeeper but reacted quickly and scored from his own rebound. LVR continued to attack for the rest of the game but was unable to finish until the last minute when some nice ball movement ended with Bruno Moro putting over a great cross that once again Lewis converted with a great header into the corner to seal the victory for the boys.
The third game on Thursday was against a strong Kelowna Secondary who had also won both of their first games.
Both teams were tired being it their third game of the day but the LVR boys came out strong and quickly scored when captain Mitch Melanson headed a ball into the path of Ryan Lewis which was calmly converted to put the boys up 1-0. LVR held together and pulled out the 1-0 victory which earned them a spot in the semi-finals on Friday morning.
The semi final saw the Bombers come up against a very strong team from Surrey’s Guildford Park Secondary and managed to keep the score at zeroes after the first half.
LVR came out slow and was punished by two quick goals in the first five minutes from the Surrey team. The locals kept pressing, but lost 2-1 and had to settle for a shot at bronze.
The bronze medal contest was against North Peace who travelled all the way from Fort St. John.
A slow start from the boys saw them down 1-0 in the first five minutes, but after another ten they were all even when Luis Loeschnik scored a screamer of a shot into the far top corner from the left side. After this the boys were energized and quickly scored again when Trace Cooke’s 40 yard shot managed to drift over the goalkeeper into the far side of the net. The half ended up LVR up 2-1.
The second half was controlled mostly by LVR with what little chances North Peace had easily handled by goalkeeper Cole Sutherland.
LVR was rewarded for their hard work when Ryan Lewis was fouled in the box resulting in a penalty which he himself cooly placed into the left corner, leaving the goalkeeper no chance.
The boys hung on for the 3-1 victory and secured the bronze medal.
Over the next two weeks LVR will play some friendlies against Trail and Creston before taking Cranbrook in the provincial playdowns. The winner of that game will earn a spot in the AAA provincial championship that will be held in Burnaby in mid-November.