The U15 Nelson Selects boys finished in sixth place at the BC Soccer Provincials B Cup. Though they didn’t medal, the team feels that the margin between them and their competition was very small.
The Selects opened up the tournament against a favoured South Burnaby team. Burnaby came out flying and was able to score 11 minutes into the game. Though Nelson had the majority of possession, Burnaby was able to capitalize on the few mistakes Nelson made and scored again with only one minute remaining in the first half.
In the second Nelson came out with determination. The boys held strong possession and dominated the play, but it took until the last 10 minutes before they could put one away. On a corner kick from Spencer Szabo, Micah May was able to put away a header. Cutting Burnaby’s lead in half. Then with only a mere six minutes left in the match, Szabo sent a flick header into a space in the middle for a charging Nicholas Wethal, who would make no mistake getting the ball into the net. The score would stand 2-2.
In Nelson’s second match the boys continued on from the momentum of the last game to pummel Williams Lake 5-0.
Nolan Percival opened the scoring midway through the first half. Nine minutes later Johnny Johnson would power one from outside the 18 yard box.
The second half proved just as easy. With Percival, James Miller, and Owen Thurston all finding the net.
The Selects third game was against Prospect Lake, and the boys would need a win if they wanted a shot for gold.
Prospect Lake opened the scoring 25 minutes into the game, after a scramble in front of the net. Nelson replied just three minutes later when Percival finished on a cross from Miller.
Prospect Lake would score the only goal late in the second half, and though Nelson pressed they couldn’t find the equalizers.
The loss put Nelson into the fifth place game, which would end up being against Chilliwack.
The Selects had a strong first half, as Micah May scored the only goal giving Nelson the 1-0 lead.
Nelson couldn’t maintain their momentum in the second. With Chilliwack scoring two goals on some defensive miscues from the Selects.
The game ended 2-1 in favour of Chilliwack, finalizing Nelson’s sixth place finish.