It was not the tournament the Shuswap FC U18 girls soccer team was looking for in Penticton last weekend.
Shuswap FC qualified for the provincial tournament by winning the Thompson Okanagan Youth Soccer League Championship against Penticton Pinnacles FC on June 21 in a nail-biting contest.
The TOYSL champs were placed in a difficult group alongside the hometown Pinnacles FC, Chilliwack Attack and Coquitlam Metro-Ford Black Ice.
Each team played three games in their group, before being seeded for the medal round.
After a difficult round robin, Shuswap FC was drawn against the Columbia Valley Titans from Invermere.
In their final match of the tournament, Shuswap FC’s strikers regained their rhythm from the TOYSL finals and found the back of the net often. In a dominant fashion Shuswap defeated Columbia Valley 4-1.
The U18 girls put their hearts on the line, knowing this was the last select soccer game for many of them. They had many opportunities, hitting either the crossbar or post a total of nine times.
Elena Bruns started the scoring on a pass from Libby Olson, followed by Maia McLellan scoring on a power header from an Olson corner. Gabby Jackson scored from a scramble in front of the net. Columbia Valley responded with a goal from the penalty spot.
Kairo Mair finished the scoring for the girls with a long-range blast, earning the consolation victory.