The Comox Valley U16 Red Devils are heading back to the provincial youth soccer championships after defeating the Lakehill Dragons of Victoria in a thrilling overtime match.
After not qualifying for three years, the Red Devils qualified by winning the North Island over Campbell River Gunners 2-0. Both goals were scored by Trenton Cameron. Other notable performances were by stalwart sweeper Brad Doig and keeper Foster DeWitt who preserved the shutout.
Tristan McLean served in tantalizing crosses for assists on both goals. Other midfielders Jerram Gawley and Aaron Simmons made it very difficult and a frustrating game for the Gunners with their skill and tenacious challenges. Jagir Lynch was his usual pesky self, earning the game's only yellow card and frustrating the Campbell River strikers.
This past Saturday Lakehill hosted Comox Valley on a blustery afternoon in Victoria. With the Devils riding high on adrenaline and heart, Comox Valley tallied first on a perfectly executed flick-on cross. Alec Molander, easily one of the most talented soccer prodigies to ever play in the area, scored the opener approximately 15 minutes into the match. Lakehill responded 10 minutes later on deflected shot that eluded Red Devils fullbacks and keeper. The half ended 1-1 with Lakehill having the wind advantage in the second half.
Lakehill pressed and out-chanced the Devils 10-5 in the second half, but keeper DeWitt made numerous breathtaking saves to preserve the tie. In soccer cup games, ties after regulation are decided by two 10-minute halves and penalty kick shootouts if overtime does not settle anything. Shootouts were not required this time.
With a tactical shift in formation, the Red Devils controlled the overtime scoring in the first five minutes. Jerram Gawley went bar down with a rocket shot that the Dragon keeper had no chance of saving. This only seemed to inspire the Devils and they overpowered the Dragons with punishing tackling and winning all loose balls. Comox Valley were killing valuable time off the clock working within the opposing half when they slipped a centering pass for Molander to slide in his second goal.
Tom Black, Sean Hoessman, Riley McCechnie along with Doig and Lynch all managed the Dragons offence nicely by not panicking and made sure that the Dragons had limited time and space. Tristan MacLean was a machine on right half delivering great throws and crosses to Nicolas Tancon and Brandon Balon. Chris Dodd gave some quality minutes on the wing half running the entire pitch offensively and defensively along with supporting role players Luke Kelly and Dylan Coburn who also contributed at wing half.
Along with a Provincial berth the Devils qualify directly to the 台湾MM裸聊室 Cup semifinal upcoming in April in the Comox Valley. They playoff against Vancouver's leading club teams. The Devils would like to recognize the efforts of the local Comox Valley United Soccer Club, their volunteers and their support for a turf pitch.
鈥� Comox Valley Red Devils
