Trail's Crowe Hawks outlast Bombers 3-2 to claim second Kootenay Roundball title in three years
By The Nelson Daily Sports
By The Nelson Daily Sports
For the second time in three years the J. Lloyd Crowe Hawks are off to the B.C. High School AA Girl’s Soccer Championships.
The Hawks used timely scoring before holding off the Bomber charge to knock off defending champion L.V. Rogers 3-2 in the Kootenay High School AA Girl’s Soccer Championships Friday afternoon in Trail.
A goal by Marlese Mauro off a free kick midway through the second half snapped a 2-2 tie sparking the Hawks to the narrow victory.
“We dominated about 90 per cent of this game . . . we had multiple chances in the end but just couldn’t capitalize,” said Bomber head coach Deb Fuhr, thrust into the role on the sidelines after last season’s tag-team of Reed Bambrick and Heather Stewart were unable to commit to the coaching full time.
“The girls showed a lot of heard and determination against Crowe and never gave up.”
“Everybody brought their A-Game to Trail,” added Fuhr.
J. Lloyd Crowe, dumping Prince Charles Comets of Creston in semi final action, now represent the Kootenays to Port Coquitlam June 2-4 for the B.C. High School AA Girl’s Championships.
Just what the doctor didn’t order for LVR was a Crowe team jumping to a 2-0 first half lead. A mix-up by defender Samantha Einarson and keeper Olivia Marshman gift-wrapped the first marker for the Hawks, heading into the tournament as the number one seed despite the two teams not playing this season.
Crowe went up 2-0 before Andrea Stinson gave LVR some life when the skillful midfield curled the ball into the net off a corner kick.
LVR tied the game early in the second half when senior striker Sarah Fuhr set up Paige Mansveld.
However, minutes later Mauro drilled a free kick over the head of Marshman for the winning goal.
“I always knew we could come back even though we were down by two goals,” said Fuhr. “We tied it 2-2 but the goal by Marlese took a little wind out of our sails . . . but still never game up, we just couldn’t finish.”
For the Bombers the Kootenay Zones could not have come at a worse time.
The squad was besieged by injuries with no less than striker Morag Paterson and defender Alex Hawes both having to leave the game.
Defenders Brittany Wheeler and Austin McGauley as well as Sarah Fuhr were also hampered with injuries.
LVR also missed the services of defender Kiraya Spencer, missing the tournament due to a previous commitment.
LVR advanced to the final by stopping Stanley Humphries Rockers 3-1.
A pair of second half goals by Paterson and Wheeler, with a lazer of a shot off a free kick, snapped a 1-1 tie powering the Bombers past the Rockers.
Samantha Einarson scored in the first half for LVR, driving home a corner kick by Fuhr.
The game marked the final contest of the high school career for Sarah Fuhr, Kiraya Spencer, Jessica Stack, Sara Einarson and Teresa Cutler.
Despite losing some key pieces of the puzzle, the head coach says the Bombers will be back in the running next season.
“This is a team to watch out for next season,” Fuhr said. “There’s some very good players coming up and some good Grade 11’s so LVR will be good next season.”
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