Early loss sends Nelson Selects to consolation round at B.C. Soccer Provincial B Cup
By The Nelson Daily Sports
An early round loss spelled the end of the line for the Nelson Selects at the B.C. Soccer Provincial B U15 Boy’s Cup Sunday at Kings Park in Penticton.
Host Pinnacles from Penticton scored early and often en route to a 7-1 shellacking of the Selects in consolation play.
The loss dropped Nelson into eighth spot in the tournament.
“Naturally we are disappointed with our final placement but the difference was so tight from first to fourth in our group . . . just a one-game difference,” commented co-coach Dan Szabo.
“We certainly belonged in this tournament and competed well and if not for a few errors and breakdowns could have challenged for gold and were so close to the bronze game.”
“You only get three games to determine your placing,” Szabo added.
Nolan Percival scored the only goal of the game for Nelson against Penticton.
The Selects opened with a 4-1 loss to Comox Valley in a game the Kootenay Reps dominated in the early going.
Two first half goals by Comox Valley, one on a penalty shot, gave the Island Reps a 2-0 lead. James Miller pulled Nelson to within a goal.
With the Selects pressing for the equalizer, Comox Valley put the game away with two goals in the final three minutes.
Nelson bounced back Friday by stopping West Vancouver Spuraways 3-2. The teams exchanged goals, Nelson’s Percival scoring, before the Lower Mainland team took over the game scoring to make it 2-1.
In the second half Spencer Szabo, on a fine individual play, tied the game before Micah May pushed the ball past the West Vancouver defence to notch the winner.
Still in the running for a medal, Nelson saw its hopes fade away with a 3-1 loss to Vancouver Point Grey.
“A win or a tie in this game would have resulted in Nelson playing in the bronze medal game,” Szabo said.
Once again Nelson fell behind before the trio of Szabo, May and Percival, the latter scoring the goal, combined to pull Nelson to 2-1.
Pressing for the tying goal Nelson saw its medal hopes dashed when Point Grey scored an insurance goal on goalkeeper Harrison Giles.
“(The coaching staff is) proud of our boys . . .. They really worked for it,” said Szabo.
“We have come so far with this group since last season,” he added. “We reached our goal of making provincials and now have a good idea of where we are with teams from across the province.
“We will only get better.”
sports@thenelsondaily.com
