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Kwalikum/Ballenas soccer rivalry renewed

Teams from Parksville and Qualicum Beach vie for soccer bragging rights

High school soccer touched down on the pitch at Kwalikum Seconary last Friday as the Whalers trimmed the host Kondors 2-nil in a Jr. Boys friendly with plenty of pace.

It’s been a number of years since both of Oceanside’s secondary schools have fielded junior boys teams.

All Whalers in the opening half, striker Steven Schan opened the scoring 15 minutes in on a breakaway up the middle.

“Good finish,” said Ballenas Secondary coach Larry Stefanek.

BSS continued to buzz the Kwalikum end and Luis Fernando fed the net to make it 2-0, which is how it stood at the half.

The Kondors regrouped at the break, made some adjustments and pressed the issue in the second half, but were unable to dig out.

“Both teams made a lot of subs in the second half ..it was an exhibition game and we had to get everyone in.

“It looked good,” Stefanek surmised of the litmus test. “We’re trying to get our players to play possession soccer and pass the ball ...not kick and run.”’

Aaron Paetkau and Spencer Land shared the duties in net for Ballenas.

 

 

GAME ON

The Whalers open their BC High School Soccer Mid-Island Jr. Boys League regular season at home Wednesday against the Wellington Wildcats (3:30 p.m. kickoff). KSS also opens their season at home that same day when they host the NDSS Islanders. Kwalikum’s senior boys soccer team opens its regular season at home today (Sept. 25) at 3:30 p.m. — BSS will not be fielding a senior boys team this year.

 

 

IN OTHER NEWS

The Upper Island Storm U15 Girls team beat the Fusion from Saanich 1-0 at Merle Logan Field in Nanaimo on Saturday for their first win of the season. Sarah Lundy scored the winner off a free kick from 30 yards out 10 minutes into the second half. The win lifts the Storm to 1-1-1.

Also on Saturday, the Mid-Isle Highlanders FC U21 team, which pencils in two local players — Qualicum standouts Darien Atkinson and Evan Stefanek — beat Lakehill 3-nil in Victoria on Saturday in their Vancouver Island Soccer League U21 division regular season opener. The high performance side is based out of Nanaimo/Ladysmith and has ties to Victoria HIghlanders and VIU soccer.