Shuswap FC U12 girls played with grit and determination as they defeated Kelowna White and Penticton in Kelowna last Sunday.
In the first match of the game against Kelowna, Shuswap possessed the ball well and displayed some beautiful passing combinations. Shuswap striker Jordan King put Shuswap on the board early in the first half when she received a pass from Phoebe Barnes, turned and slotted it with her left foot just inside the near post.
Shuswap continued to control the play and defenders Laura Hall, Brooklyn Davidson, Julia Hart and Jannae Bocking let nothing past.
The score remained 1-0 until the second half when Kelowna equalized with a goal of their own.
Shuswap was not dismayed and continued to create chances until they were finally rewarded with five minutes left in the match when Sophia Ruckle, off a Lys Milne pass, sped past a Kelowna defender and blasted the ball into the back of the net, beating the Kelowna keeper.
This proved to be the game winner and the final score of this nail-biter was 2-1.
Braidy Parkes was outstanding in goal.
In the second match of the day against an aggressive Penticton squad, Shuswap set the tone early when King robbed the Penticton keeper of the ball and calmly put the ball in the back of the net making it 1-0.
A stunned Penticton squad was unable to recover and King was able to score again with a well-struck shot early in the second half.
Ruckle put Shuswap on the board next on a beautiful shot from the left giving the Sharp Shooters a commanding 3-0 lead.
Penticton was not to be shut out and soon responded with two goals of their own, narrowing the scoreline to 3-2 for Shuswap.
Laura Hall and Barnes controlled the middle and Shuswap forwards Gabriella Torrie, O’Dell and Holly McCaskill continued to create chances on goal.
Shuswap soon regained their composure and King, Barnes, Ruckle and Milne put on a passing clinic.
They were finally rewarded when Milne passed the ball to an open King who earned the hattrick by making it 4-2 with a beautiful goal.
King finished off the scoring for Shuswap with another well- struck ball, making the final score 5-3.
Julia Hart made several excellent saves and was stellar in goal.