Coastal Cup wins for pair of Semiahmoo soccer squads
A pair of Semiahmoo Soccer Club squads have new trophies to add to their collections after Coastal Cup victories earlier this month.
In U18 girls action, the Semiahmoo Vipers edged Squamish United 2-1 in Chilliwack on April 1 to capture the cup, and the Semiahmoo Silver '96 also captured a Coastal Classic Cup victory with a 3-2 win over Abbotsford.
In the Vipers' victory, the South Surrey/White Rock squad was led by a two-goal effort from Ellena Benachhio, while game MVP honours went to Alex Luitec. Though they didn't figure into the scoring, McLayne Puratich and Catherine Methven helped pace the Vipers' offensive attack throughout the game, and midfielders Katie Brown, Hayley Pederson, Kim Fong, and Olivia Hadden all had strong games, as did Lucy Cilliars and Bailey Ramsay.
Heidi Gulka earned the win in net for Semiahmoo, and was aided by defenders Sarah Unger, Hayley Price, Kelsey McDonald and Melyssa Martin.
The win was the Vipers' second Coastal Cup in the last three years.
The Semi Silver '96 win came in a game marred by miserable weather conditions and "several controversial calls" according to coach Alex Watson.
Semiahmoo never trailed in the game, and Alyssa Ward played the role of hero, scoring the winning goal – her second of the game – with five minutes left in regulation time.
Ward got the Peninsula side on the board early, but Abbotsford battled back to tie, and Semi went up 2-1 on a Kylie Watson goal.
Abby tied the game again on a goal that appeared to many to hit the crossbar and stay out of the net. Undeterred, Semi responded with Ward's goal minutes later.
Semiahmoo went undefeated in five games en route to the Coastal Cup title, and defender Katherine Rebselj was named MVP of the final game.
- Nick Greenizan
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