The Nelson U14 Selects will be playing for bronze in the BC Soccer Provincials on Sunday after defeating rival Kootenay South 4-2 on Saturday afternoon.
On a blustery afternoon at Lakeside Park pitch, the Selects battled the wind in the first half and found themselves down 1-0 after Kootenay South’s Eva D’Odorico scored with 10 minutes left in the opening 35 minutes.
With the wind at their back, Nelson poured it on in the second half and took full advantage of what Mother Nature was throwing.
Five minutes into the half, Sophie Borhi crossed the ball to Amreesa Bhabra just outside the five-yard box and the Nelson striker made no mistake, calmly depositing the ball in the lower corner to tie the score at 1-1.
Kootenay South got that one back one minute later after marching down the pitch to regain the lead.
Just under 13 minutes into the half, Alex Pompu crossed the ball to Borhi who was sprung on a breakaway and made no mistake with a laser over the head of the Kootenay South keeper to tie the score at 2-2.
“We hoped the wind would stick around for a the second half, it was certainly a factor,” said Nelson coach Rob Borhi.
Sophie Bohrhi continued her strong game 17 minutes into the half when she gathered a loose ball eight yards out and fired a low shot to give Nelson the lead.
With the Selects continuing to dominate, an own goal by Kootenay South with 10 minutes left in the half gave Nelson the insurance they needed for the victory.
“The last 20 minutes was the best soccer we have played all season,” said coach Borhi. “At the half we told them needed to do everything they could to win and get us into the bronze medal game. They responded well.”
The U14 Selects will now play Powell River in the bronze medal game on Sunday.
“The girls will have to play their best game in the four days,” Bohrhi said of what it will take to ensure a medal. “We will have to finish in front of the net and play strong defensively.”
In other action, the Nelson U13 Selects had a tough time against pre-tournament favourite Prospect Lake, losing 8-1 on Saturday afternoon. They will play in the seven-eight game on Sunday.
The Nelson U15 Selects play at 4 p.m. needing a win against Kelowna to get into a medal game.