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Selects settle for Silver Medal, again, after dropping 2-0 decision to Prince George

The Nelson Daily Sports
By The Nelson Daily Sports
July 10th, 2017

For the third consecutive year, the Nelson U18 Selects take home the silver medal at the BC Soccer Provincial B Cup.

Prince George Timberwolves scored the game-winnng goal 15 minutes into the second half en route to a 2-0 victory over Nelson in the final of the U18 Girl’s Provincial B Soccer Championships Sunday in Surrey.

The loss marks the third straight season Nelson U18s have finished in the runner-up spot at the Provincial B Cup.

"It was a real tough one,” said U18 Selects coach Chuck Bennett following the heartbreaking loss.

“Tough in the sense that we lost, but not tough because the way we played. If we managed a goal in the first half, I think we win the game by more than one. But once you leave it to the second half then you risk that one bad bounce that leads to a goal and you spend the rest of the half chasing."

Bennett & Company thought the Selects broke through against the Northern Reps 37 minutes into the first half when Shianne Michalchuk made some great moves through the middle before placing a nice pass to teammate Jodi Surina just inside the box.

The only problem, Surina’s rocket of a shot rattled off the crossbar.

Scoreless at the half, the Timberwolves netter the only goal they would need 15 minutes into the second half.

A rare defensive miscue by the Select coupled by some hard work by the Timberwolves led to Prince George scoring the winning tally past Nelson keeper Hanna Quinn.

Looking for the equalizer, the Select moved defender Maya Ida to the striker position.

However, it was the Prince George defenders that limited the Selects to no real good scoring chances before putting the game away with a goal minutes from the final whistle.

"There was a time when it was a big deal for this program just to get into a medal game,” Bennett said after NYS squad won its third silver medal.

“Now these girls don't know anything else but winning medals. This cements the fact that Nelson has a terrific program and the younger girls in our community can see the success we've had and build on it." 

Nelson, winners of Group one following round robin action, opened the tournament with a 3-1 win over host SurDel from Surrey Delta.

The Selects then pounded Burnaby Girls Impact 5-0 before scoring a date in the final with a 1-1 draw against Vancouver.

Meanwhile, Prince George won Group two by edging Penticton Pinnacles on gold differential after both teams finished with a 2-1 record.

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