Trio of Nelson Selects eliminated during Kootenay Provincial Playdowns
By The Nelson Daily Sports
The U17 Boys are among a trio of Nelson Select squads that failed to advance to the Les Sinnott Memorial Boys Provincial Cup next month in Richmond.
The Selects finished third in the three-team U17 Boy’s round-robin tournament Sunday in Invermere.
The other teams eliminated from further provincial action include the U13 and U14 Selects.
The U18 Selects received a bye through to the July 3-6 tournament and join the U13, U14, U15 and U17 Girls teams.
The girl’s tournament is July 3-6 in Chilliwack.
The U17 Selects opened the tournament dropping a 3-1 decision to host Columbia Valley. Nelson then played to a 1-1 draw against East Kootenay of Cranbrook.
The third-place finish saw Nelson’s Kootenay Playdown title end at three.
Against Columbia Valley, the hosts scored at the 50th and 67th minute mark to take a 2-0 lead.
Micah May cut the margin in half with a well-placed strike at the 78th minute.
However, with the visitors pressing for the equalizer, Columbia Valley secured the victory with a marker in the final minute of the match.
Later in the day against East Kootenay, and facing a must-win situation, the Selects allowed the Cranbrook-based squad to take a 1-0 lead at the 39th minute of the first half.
East Kootenay had a chance to double the lead but missed on a penalty kick attempt.
Play was challenging for both sides as a wind and rainstorm plagued the game during the second half — the storm flooded part of the parking lot.
Nelson would get it’s own chance with a penalty kick with Jake Anderson converting at the 77th minute.
Nelson pressed on in the final 13 minutes but had to settle for the 1-1 draw.
The result eliminated Selects from the Provincials.
