The Wildcats were game but the Kondors wore them down Tuesday as KSS knocked off Wellington 5-1 in AA B.C. high school soccer action.
A fast-paced match played out in Qualicum Beach under still more sun, the Kondors struck early as in a minute in to go up 1-nil when Santiago Bouyra cashed in on a wild goal mouth scramble.
“It was a wild scramble,” KSS head coach Butch Gayton confirmed after, pointing out “we had about five shots before it finally went in it — they (the shots) were bouncing off defenders, bouncing off our guys....”
The underdogs from Wellington scored to pull even 1-1 off a nifty passing play down low five minutes later, which is how it stood for quite awhile.
“I’m surprised it’s this tight,” the Wellington keeper quipped after another Kwalikum shot sailed wide. “It was supposed to be a blowout.”
“We weren’t excited about scoring goals in the first half,” said Gayton. “We were tinkering with formations and we wanted to knock the ball around to get used to each other.”
Ben Robson slotted one home late in the first half for a 2-1 Kwalikum lead at the break.
The Kondors came out in the second half with purpose and upped the offensive pressure even more, as Darien Atkinson, Evan Stefanek and Axel Cash all tallied for Kwalikum down the stretch.
Backup goalie Bruno Feitosa looked solid to pick up the win in net.
But the big news for the lads in the burgundy strips was the 28th-29th at the Carihi Sr. Boys Fall Classic in Campbell River where the Kondors went 4-0 to finish top of the heap at the annual eight-team tourney, which is always seen as an important litmus test for the top teams.
KSS opened with a 1-0 win over Mark Isfeld’s Ice from Comox; knocked off the host Tyees in penalty kicks (1-1 after regulation), then trimmed the defending provincial champions Glenlyon Norfolk from Victoria 2-1.
“That was a very interesting game. It was a great game for us — it was a good win for our confidence.”
KSS closed it out with another win in PK, this one over Gulf Islands (1-1 after regulation).
“We were incredibly gritty, they were incredibly talented.
“The thing about this is that we started the tournament missing five starters,” said Gayton,” and we’ve got guys that are hurt, that are limping, and we were trying to hold off two very good teams in GNS and Gulf Islands.”
Sr. boys soccer action next Tuesday
In the tournament final against the Scorpions, Gayton said his side was out-possessed “probably 75 per cent to 25 ...we got a goal and we just hung on for dear life.”
Robson notched the opening goal in that one 10 minutes — it was his first game back after missing three to injury, and to win the game in PKs was a notable accomplishment for the team.
“It was pretty spectacular,” said the longtime teacher/coach, adding “it was a very special moment in KSS soccer — at the end of it to realize what we did with just a ragtag fugitive fleet.”
In what was certainly a busy week one of their season, the Kondors played five games in five days and won all five — three of them by shutout, with a goals for-and-against of 11-2.
“We were the wounded warriors today. We battled hard,” Kwalikum teacher and soccer booster Ruth Stefanek said after the tournament final in CR.
GAME ON
Kwalikum’s Sr. Boys are home next Tuesday (Oct. 9) when they host Barsby (3:30 p.m. start) then travel to Nanaimo to take on AAA powerhouses Dover Bay Dolphins in a friendly.
IN JR BOYS soccer action
Kwalikum and Ballenas both had league games on Wednesday.
The Kondors clipped Ladysmith 7-1 at KSS, and the Whalers suffered a 4-1 setback against the Dover Bay Dolphins in Nanaimo.
Daniel Doukakis was on a tear Wednesday, leading the Kondors with four goals and two assists in their win, which lifts the team to 2-0 in league play and 3-2-1 overall. Their next league game is next Wednesday on the road.
In the BSS game, Dover went up 1-nil and Ian Whibley buried a hard low shot to knot it 1-1. The Dolphins upped it to 2-1 just before the half, then scored two late goals to secure the win.
“Not our best performance with three starters not in the lineup, but no excuses,” Whalers’ coach Larry Stefanek said after.
The Whalers are now 1-1 in league play and 5-1 overall this season. Their next leaguer is in Ladysmith next Wednesday against the 49ers.