Four Upper Island Riptide soccer teams remained in the hunt for berths in the 2015 provincial championships after securing semifinal victories on the turf in Comox Valley last weekend.
The defending provincial champion U15 boys shook off a tenacious Upper Island Storm squad to win 4-1 after playing to a 1-1 draw through the first half. The boys squad will host Saanich/Prospect in the Vancouver Island Premier League championship final on the turf at 2 p.m. Sunday, with the winner advancing to the provincial tourney.
The Riptide's U14, U15 and U16 girls teams all advanced as top seeds and will also host Island finals matches this weekend.
The U15 girls took control early in the second half and went on to a 4-2 win over Gorge/Lakehill Saturday and will host Saanich/Prospect at noon Saturday with a provincial berth on the line.
The U16 girls advanced with a forfeit win in a scheduled semifinal against Bays/Peninsula, and will also host Saanich/Prospect in the finals Saturday at 2 p.m.
The U14 girls topped Saanich/Prospect in their semifinal Saturday afternoon and will host the Storm this Saturday in the other final. Game time has not yet been announced.
Four more Riptide teams were knocked from contention in semifinal losses on the road last weekend.
The U18 girls suffered a 3-0 loss to the Storm; the U17 boys played the top-ranked Storm to a 1-1 draw in regulation but fell 2-1 in overtime; and the U21 Riptide men dropped a 5-2 decision to Highlanders.
The Riptide club is made up of players from Campbell River, the Comox Valley, Powell River and Port Hardy.
For more information and schedule updates, visit riptidesoccer.ca.