The Kondors were in fine form for their league opener last Thursday, as they blasted the John Barsby Bulldogs 6-nil in senior boys soccer action.
Played out at Kwalikum Secondary School, the Kondors came out flying and carved out a tasty win.
German exchange student Oliver Zaph opened the scoring 10 minutes in and Ben Robson, Matt Shapka and Connal Spencer would also strike for KSS to make it 4-zip at the break. Spencer and Tyrell Biel bulged the twine in the second half to round out the scoring.
“We looked very good,” longtime KSS coach Butch Gayton confirmed after, adding, “lots of ball control and some probing diagonal passes — it was nice to see them executing things we work on in practice.”
Bad news for the other four sides in the six-team AA Sr. Boys Mid-Island league is that this year’s Kwalikum side looks to be big and fast with plenty of firepower. The Kondors were a lot stronger on the ball then the Bulldogs.
“We definitely had possession of the ball for most of the game, and they never really challenged us — I thought we were quite solid in the back,” said Gayton.
In keeping with the flow of the play, the Kondors also out-shot the Bulldogs by the bushel, and had it not been for some big diving saves by Barsby’s small but athletic keeper, the score would heave been a lot more lopsided.
“For sure,” said Gayton, adding, “we definitely had a big edge in shots on goal. Their kid turned in a great effort.”
THE JR. KONDORS in the meantime were ramping up for their season at a tournament in Campbell River on the weekend where they went 2-1 with wins over Mark Isfeld and Highlands, and a loss to Carihi to finish second in the six-team tourney.
“We actually played very well, but that Carihi team was playing their 13th game, we were playing our second,” said Gayton, who is pulling double duty coaching Kwalikum soccer this year.
Against Carihi, the Kondors had duelled the Tyees to a 1-1 tie with 15 minutes left in the game only to lose 3-1.
GAME ON
The Jr. boys open league play at KSS today (Tuesday) at 4 p.m., when they take on the perennial powerhouse Dover Bay Dolphins.
The Sr. Kondors travel to Shawnigan Lake on Thursday to take on the Stags, who are coming off a big win over a tough Saltspring side.