Playing in the national championship tournament is nothing new for Surrey United.
And while hoisting the Jubilee Trophy after six days of competition has proven to be a very difficult task in the past, the eight-time B.C. women’s soccer champions did just that Monday afternoon in Brossard, Quebec.
United, which had won just one national title in seven previous appearances, clinched their second with a 2-1 victory over Royal Select Beauport in Monday’s championship game.
“Our girls came out determined to dictate the tempo,” said United coach Jeff Clarke. “Our girls just didn’t get rattled.”
Rachael Pelat gave Surrey a 1-0 lead with a goal in the 40th minute. Katie Thorlakson added what would be the winning goal from the penalty spot in the second half. Beauport scored a late goal, but couldn’t crack the United defence to force overtime.
United began play last Wednesday with a 5-2 win over Newfoundland and Labrador, with Pelat netting a pair and Alexandra Benes, Thorlakson and Nicole Stewart adding singles. A day later against Alberta, Benes, Thorlakson and April Coffin were the goalscorers in a 3-1 win.
Surrey ripped Manitoba 10-1 in their third contest on Friday, clinching a berth in the championship game. Chelsey Hannesson had a four-goal game, with Megan Blaker netting a hat trick. Coffin with two goals and Randee Hermus also scored.
After a day off, United faced Sherbrooke, Quebec in their final round robin game, and fell 2-1 with Benes the Surrey goal scorer.
- ICST Pegasus almost made it a Surrey double in Brossard, but had to settle for a silver medal in the men’s national championship tournament.
Pegasus fell 2-0 to the Saskatchewan HUSA Alumni in Monday’s final, their only loss of the week.
“The schedule is a bruising one and we faced very tough quarterfinal and semifinal opponents, which did have an impact on us,” said Pegasus manager Sandy Sumra. “We did have our chances in the final, but Saskatchewan was too strong and deserved their win.”
Pegasus won their three-team group in round robin play, blanking Nova Scotia 2-0 Wednesday then edging Saskatchewan 2-1 Friday on two goals by David Morris.
The playoff round began Saturday, with Omari Aldrige scoring the game’s only goal in a 1-0 win over Mont-Royal Outremont.
Goals from Azad Palini and Niko Marcini lifted Pegasus to a 2-1 win over Holy Cross Kirby of Newfoundland and Labrador in Sunday’s semifinal game.