Stinson powers Selects to berth at B.C. Soccer Provincial B Cup
By The Nelson Daily Sports
By The Nelson Daily Sports
The Nelson Selects started slow, but finished with a bang in their Kootenay U17 Girl’s Playdown mini-series with Kootenay South during the weekend.
The Selects won both games en route to earning the zone berth in the upcoming B.C. Soccer Provincial B Cup Tournament July 7-10 in Penticton.
“The whole team stepped up with a short bench, most notable was the play of Andrea Stinson who scored four goals,” said co-coach Cam Paterson after watching the Selects post wins of 2-1 and 5-2.
“A game official referred to Andrea’s play as ‘pure domination’,” Paterson added.
The two-game, home-and-home series opened Saturday morning with Katarina Garbula stealing the show early before the Selects were able to finally solve the Kootenay South defence.
The Nelson keeper was called upon to make a few early saves before the offence was able to step up.
Paige Mansveld got the Selects going, stepping through the Kootenay South defence before burying the game’s first goal.
Bekka Schrader, on a fine set up by Chloe Kuch, scored the winner to give Nelson narrow victory.
Sunday, at Sunningdale in Trail, Nelson played most of the game with 10 players after a defender was sent off with a foul inside the penalty area.
That didn’t seem to bother the Selects, which pumped in five goals, four from Stinson, to rout Kootenay South.
“Losing a key fullback and playing with nine fielders three-quarters of the game would have been a huge setback for most teams but not this team,” Paterson explained. “They got stronger and took control of the play.”
Schrader added her second of the weekend to conclude the scoring for Nelson.
“It’s a pleasure to be part of this team,” said Paterson, also pleased with the play of defenders Brittany Wheeler and Samantha Einarson.
“The girls are very committed and determined to achieve their goals. The team is like the Kootenay River . . . hard to stop.”
Nelson travels to Cranbrook this weekend to compete in the annual Sam Steele Days Tournament.
The event is a tune up for the Provincial B Cup in July.
sports@thenelsondaily.com
