The Penelakut Island Thunder men’s soccer team is maintaining an amazing consistency by being in the running during every tournament this season.
The trend continued in the Seabird Island Festival on the Lower Mainland, as the Thunder finished second in a top-notch field of 10 teams. It was also a money tournament, giving the team $1,600 in winnings.
Coach Mark Brown Sr. said the team fell just short mainly due to a untimely knee injury to Shane Brown in the final. He’s all right, but went to hospital and could not finish the game.
Work commitments also factored in a reduced Thunder roster, but the team fought hard to the bitter end and almost pulled off another tournament title.
The Thunder won the first outdoor tournament of the season in Victoria and then finished second at Saanich and third at the Cowichan Buckskin prior to Seabird Island. The team also won two indoor tournaments before switching to the outdoor season.
“They love the game of soccer,” Brown said of his players.
Related story: Second straight indoor soccer title for the Thunder
The Thunder opened the Seabird Island tournament against the host team and won 4-1 in a dominant performance on two goals by Devin Jack and singles from Shane Brown and Michael Daniels.
The second game brought a 3-0 triumph over Musqueam Blues, as Ryan Sampson, Daniels and Shane Brown netted goals.
“We pretty much dominated that game, too,” said coach Brown. “We created a lot of chances.”
That put the Thunder into last Sunday’s semifinal of the modified double knockout against Xwelmexw FC (Chehalis), the champs of the Cowichan Buckskin tournament. Goals by Kenneth Jolliffe and Daniels powered the team to a 2-1 victory.
Jolliffe was a pick-up player from the Kingcome Wolves.
“That was an excellent fast-paced game,” observed Mark Brown Sr.
“After we beat them (Xwelmexw), they dropped down and beat Musqueam. They ended up playing us in the final.”
Unfortunately for the Thunder, the rematch in the final ended up in a 3-2 loss. Devin Jack and Brent Brown scored goals in the game for the Thunder.
Caden Jack was named a tournament all-star for the Thunder.
The team’s next tournament is in Campbell River on the Canada Day long weekend.
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don.bodger@chemainusvalleycourier.ca
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