This year’s Toyota national championships will go down in history as a monumental week of soccer for Saskatchewan.
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It was an unprecedented double for soccer teams from Saskatoon at club nationals.
Two teams would reach gold-medal finals. For the under-15 Alliance girls, it was silver; for the under-17 Alliance boys, a national title.
This year’s Toyota national championships will go down in history as a monumental week of soccer for Saskatchewan.
For the boys, this was six years in the making. All the training, fundraising, four Prairie League Soccer titles, three trips to nationals, and a ton of parental help were all geared toward this week in Sydney, Nova Scotia.
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The week started with a 3-2 win over the hosts. It seemed as if a deadlock would be inevitable until Alliance was awarded a penalty in added time. Captain Simon Weber smashed it home at the death.
Match two against Fredericton, N.B., was a bit tricky. A lightning delay and rain-drenched pitch did not distract the boys in black. Saskatoon won it 2-1.
Match three was against familiar foes Edmonton BTB. Having played each other numerous times in the past, this one more important than them all, the winner would secure a place in the final.
Alliance was the more focused and determined on this day. Rowen Gresty’s free-kick from 40 yards eluded everyone, bounced past the Alberta keeper and into the back of the net. The early strike would hold up, as Jackson Kovitch and Cole Krushelniski shut it down in the back. The final score was 1-0.
On the final day, it would be the Thornhill Bolts of Ontario. The Bolts had gone undefeated, topping a difficult group that included the likes of Quebec, B.C., and Manitoba.
With the game tied at half, Thornhill struck first, just two minutes into the second frame. This would be the only time all week that Alliance would trail. The Ontario lead lasted 10 minutes.
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Contending for goal of the tournament, a left-footed blast from 20 yards out by tournament MVP Nazarii Bulyhin would level the match. Minutes later, during a mess in front of goal, the ball dropped to the feet of Tristao Hein. The danger man tucked it home to give Alliance the lead, one they would never relinquish.
To the Thorns’ frustration, Alliance killed off the clock in well-executed fashion. Jubilation followed the final whistle: jerseys coming off, hugs, tears, and cheers, with a salute to family and friends in attendance.
“I just kept thinking how blessed I am to have coached such an amazing group of boys,” said Coach Dan Weber.
On the under-15 girls’ side, Saskatoon Alliance won three and lost once in round-robin play. This included a shocking come-from-behind win over Guelph, Ont. With Alliance up 2-1, Calla Zimmer scored an impressive marker. A ‘Pele-like’ touch by the defender and cool finish past the keeper sealed a 3-1 win over Ontario. Zimmer finished with six goals.
In Saskatchewan’s third match, Chloe Coombs scored a late game-winner to edge Prince Edward Island 2-1. With Saskatoon in full control of its destination, regardless of any other results, a win over Langley, B.C. in its last group stage match sent Alliance to the final. They took full advantage of the opportunity, defeating them 4-1.
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In the title match, the Edmonton Warriors were too much for Alliance. The Warriors had dominated, with five wins and zero lost while outscoring opponents 19-1 along the way.
It was bittersweet for the girls, who would settle for silver. What a massive achievement to finish No. 2 in the country in their debut. This medal was the first podium finish for a Saskatchewan team at the under-15 age group, girls or boys.
(Lee Kormish, a freelance writer, can be reached at leekormish@sasktel.net you can follow Lee’s World Cup Channel on youtube)
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