The CRYSA U-15 Bluebacks played the U-15 Prospect Lake Lakers on Saturday, May 12th for the Island Cup Championship.
It was glorious sunny morning in Nanaimo when the Bluebacks entered the turf to play the game. Coach Sandy White and Assistant coach Jeff Ostler had the boys pumped and ready to go right from the kick-off. Most of the first half was played in the Bluebacks offensive area and late in the first half, striker Dylan Sparling scored with a beautiful finish after stealing the soccer ball from a Lakers defenceman.
The half finished intensely and with success for the Bluebacks. The pressure from the Lakers increased during the second half and the Bluebacks fought hard to keep the win.
After 70 minutes of play a Bluebacks defender received a penalty resulting in a penalty kick on goaltender, Jesse Kennedy. It was one of the few shots Jesse had had all game and the shot was low and skimmed by Kennedy to tie the game.
The morale stayed high as the Bluebacks fans cheered and the boys played their best for the final 10 minutes.
No goals were scored, bringing the team into five rounds of penalty shots. Kennedy would have to show his skills...and he did.
Five attempts on the net for each team and the game was still tied.
After two more rounds of penalty kicks, midfielder Dayton Tatton smoked the net with a deadly shot that soared past the Lakers’ outstretched hands and into the net and gave the Bluebacks the Island Cup Championship.