Nelson’s U17 girls are off to the provincials.
The girls earned their spot at next month’s Provincial B Cup in Penticton with an impressive pair of wins, —2-1 and 5-2 — over rival Kootenay South in a home-and-home series to decide the Kootenay champ.
In the first game at Lakeside pitch, Paige Mansveld converted from Sara Einarson to put Nelson ahead 1-0 at the half. Bekka Schrader then doubled the lead for Nelson early in the second half.
Kootenay South managed to get one back in the late stages of the game, but that was as close as they came.
“We got an outstanding effort by keeper Katarina Garbula,” says co-coach Cam Patterson.
While Nelson only needed a win or a tie in the second half of the home-and-away contest to earn the Kootenay title, the girls left no doubt as they went on to a 5-2 win.
Even more impressive was the win came with only 10 players as one of Nelson’s defenders was sent off with a red card early in the match.
Kootenay South also rewarded with a penalty kick following the card, which they converted.
That goal came after Andrea Stinson had given Nelson the early lead when she scored off a well placed corner from Tasha Hewat.
Stinson again put Nelson ahead with her second goal in the first half. The lead was shortlived as Kootenay South fought back to tie it at 2-2 before the end of the first half.
“Losing a key fullback and playing down a player for three-quarters of the game would have been a huge set back for most teams, but not this team, they got stronger and took control of the play,” says Patterson.
Stinson scored twice more and Schrader added her second of the weekend to round out the scoring.
“The whole team stepped up with a short bench,” says Patterson.
“The most notable was the play of Andrea Stinson who scored four goals. The game official referred to Andrea’s play as ‘pure domination’.”