A dramatic goal just before final whistle propelled the Nelson U14 Selects to a bronze medal at the BC Soccer Provincial B Cup Championship at Lakeside pitch on Sunday afternoon.
With time winding down, Nelson striker Sophie Borhi floated in a perfect corner kick to the Powell River goal and both Reece Hunt and Michaela Anderson got a head on the ball that went into the net. The play ended with no time remaining and the 1-0 victory was secured.
“It was an amazing finish,” said Nelson coach Rob Borhi. “They controlled most of the play in the second half, but we held them off without any real good scoring chances. One goal was all we needed.”
The teams played even in the first half with Selects keeper Camryn Parnell proving to be the difference with several key saves that included turning away a penalty kick just outside the 18-yard box late in the half.
Parnell was also a factor in the second half which saw the Powell River club dominate play for the majority of the 35 minutes.
“She has done a great job for us all year,” said coach Borhi. “She makes the saves she should and even makes the saves that she maybe shouldn’t.”
Despite being outplayed for most of the second half, Nelson did come on in the last five minutes with pressure in the Powell River zone. The corner kick set up the eventual winner for a jubilant Selects side.
“It’s not too often Nelson teams have a chance to medal in the provincials and I told the girls before the tournament that our goal was to do just that,” said Borhi. “They played hard all tournament and it was well earned.”
In other action at Lakeside pitch on Sunday, the Nelson U13 Selects beat Kootenay South 3-0 to finish seventh in the tournament and the Nelson U15 Selects lost 2-0 to Maple Ridge to finish sixth.
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