CAPERS GOLD RUSH IN PEI...ACADEMY GIRLS BOTH WIN BIG ON THE ROAD
CAPERS Academy U13AA Girls squad did the island proud on Sunday as their two 9 v 9 teams, in the Premier and Division One brackets, BOTH won their tournaments in a dramatic day at the Winsloe Charlottetown tournament on Prince Edward Island.
In the Premier bracket CAPERS emerged from a tough section to land a semi-final with PEI's excellent RC United and came out 2-1 winners thanks to a superb volley from Claire Kaupp off a corner and an Avery Kelloway penalty.
That set up a Final with the host WC Royals club and striker Evelyn Power's 21st goal of a prolific season put the CAPERS ahead before the home team fought back to equalise. It was left to defender Macey MacPherson to seal it with a 40-yard free-kick to clinch gold in a 2-1 triumph.
With the dust barely settled on that one the CAPERS Division One girls faced their Final, against the WC Royals D1 squad and it was another nerve-jangling affair.
The girls had advanced to the last four after a 7.45am penalty shoot out win against Stratford after both clubs finished the round robin with identical records.
That PK decider was clinched by Logan MacDermid after some stellar goalkeeping from Victoria County product Simone Pinnington and that formula would work again in the final four.
CAPERS were behind with the clock ticking away but Whitney Pier alumni Ariah Sheppard showed her class to smash home the equaliser and send us into another stomach-churning shootout.
Yet again, though, keeper Simone found the saves that were needed and once more it was left to MacDermid to blast home the clincher with the fifth kick.
That meant the Final and a chance to give Division One Head Coach Kelly MacDermid, Logan's mom, the perfect birthday present with a gold medal.
CAPERS fell behind but these girls don't know the meaning of quit and they drew level when Victoria County's Charlotte MacLean crashed a shot off the crossbar and strike partner Emma Jean Power was fouled as she was about to tap home the rebound.
Up stepped Academy prospect Claire Kelloway, still just 11 playing in a U13 tournament, to calmly rap home from the spot and it looked like we would have the third shootout of the day.
Someone forgot to tell in-form striker Sheppard, though, and Ariah pounced after more great work from Power - sister of Premier goal grabber Evelyn - to stab home a last minute clincher.
This weekend CAPERS, who sit two points clear at the top of the Nova Scotia Soccer League Tier One table after 10 games, face closest rivals Suburban FC in a top of the table double-header at Ness Timmons Field. The action kicks off at 2pm on Saturday and 9am on Sunday.
GOLDEN GIRLS...the CAPERS Premier squad (left to right) BACK ROW: Deano Morley Head Coach, Macey MacPherson, Haven Brown, Evelyn Power, Claire Kaupp, Avery Kelloway, Technical Director Iain King. FRONT ROW: Annie Mullins, Brooklyn Morley, Rory Stockley, Rachel Doyle, Allie MacInnis, Mya Boudreau.
