Innkeepers shutout pesky Bombers to retain Leo's Men's Open League championship with 2-0 victory
By The Nelson Daily Sports
In the end it was experience prevailing over youth.
The Nelson, formerly Heritage, Innkeepers scored twice in the second half to successfully defend its 2010 title over the L.V. Rogers Bombers 2-0 in the final of the Leo’s Men’s Open Soccer League Saturday afternoon at the Lakeside Pitch.
The win completed a double for the Innkeepers, which also captured the regular season title.
Following a scoreless first half where the regular season champs had every opportunity to take the lead — including a goal-mouth chance from player-coach Kerry Dyck that some how never went into the goal — Innkeepers snapped the goose egg early in the second half.
Striker Iain Harvey corralled a ball inside the penalty area and facing away from the goal, turned to drill a shot to the corner of the net past LVR keeper Andrew Woodward.
The goal appeared to open up the offences as LVR pressed for the equalizer while the Innkeepers pushed for an insurance marker.
In the end it was the Innkeepers getting what they wanted. Twenty-five minutes after the game’s first marker the Innkeepers got an insurance goal as striker No. 2 striker Ed Canzian fought off a Bomber defender before drilling a low shot past Woodward.
Canzian, who lives in Trail, was a key recruit by Dyck this season who doubled the scoring-threat potential of the Innkeeper offence.
Not deterred by a two-goal deficit, LVR pushed to get back into the game.
The Bombers Ryan Lewis and Lewis Loeschnik, easily the best player on the pitch for LVR, missed wide with shots on Innkeeper goalie Mike Precious from just outside the penalty area.
Precious finished the game by making a few key saves to preserve the shutout.
At the other end of the pitch Cole Sutherland was flawless between the pipes for LVR during the first half.
LVR advanced to the final with a thrilling 4-3 win over Kootenay Co-op. Meanwhile, the Innkeepers received an easy pass to the final after The Action failed to field a team for the other semi final.
While most of the Innkeepers move indoors for the winter, the Bombers, under the guidance of head coach Jamie Spendlove, travel to Summerland for a High School Tournament in the Central Okanagan.
The tournament will serve as a tune-up for the Bombers which hosts the Kootenay High School AAA Boy’s Soccer Final later this month.
The winner advances to the B.C. High School AAA Boy’s Soccer Championships November 24-26 in Burnaby.
GOAL KICKS: Sunday afternoon the other two Nelson City Soccer Leagues conclude their respective seasons. At 2:45 p.m., Dirty Dozen meet Lily Whites in the final of the Finley’s Ladies Rec League. Following the conclusion of the Finley’s Final, Jackson’s Hole meets Club Inter in the finale of the Jackson’s Hole Men’s Masters League. Both games are played at the Lakeside Pitch.
sports@thenelsondaily.com
