The Yukon’s U-14 boys and U-16 girls soccer teams have a few things in common. Not only are they both called the Strikers (unlike the other Yukon teams), both teams defeated PEI en route to 10th-place finishes at the BMO Championships, Canada’s national soccer tournament held at three locations across Canada.
In fact, the boys’ team (2-3) picked up two wins over the Winsloe West Royalty Blues from PEI, beating them 3-1 Saturday and 2-1 Sunday in Sydney, Nova Scotia, with three goals from Marten Sealy in the first game and two goals from Belgie Nunez-Zungla in the second.
Competing at the U-16 tournament in Winnipeg, the girls’ 2-1 win over PEI was their only of the nationals, but the team started the championships with a close 4-3 loss to Nova Scotia, almost tying the game with a break away in the final minute. Scoring for the Strikers against PEI were Odette Rivard and Terri Publicover, who also scored in Yukon’s opening loss against Nova Scotia.
Those were not the only Yukon teams to take home wins.
Strangely, after getting shut out by Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and PEI, the Yukon Selects men’s team ended the tournament with a 3-1 win over Ontario’s Real Toronto. The victory put the Selects in ninth out of the 10 teams competing in Saskatoon.
The Arctic Wolves (1-4), Yukon’s U-16 boys’ team finished 11th overall, defeating Newfoundland 3-2 in their final match. Finding the back of the net for the Wolves were Caleb Kelly and Robert Borud with two.
The Klondike Blizzards, Yukon’s U-14 girls’ team, went winless in Sydney, shutout in all five games.
Contact Tom Patrick at
tomp@yukon-news.com