Okanagan FC PCSL

Okanagan FC travelled down to the coast again this past weekend to take on two perennial powerhouses Vancouver Whitecaps Prospects and Thunderbirds. It was going to be a tough weekend of play and OFC would have to bring forth their top game to take on these skilled programs and they did. Although they dropped the games 1-0 (WFC Prospects) and 2-1 (T-birds) the team from the Okanagan played some fantastic football.

Saturday Okanagan FC faced the Whitecaps Prospects and with a game plan in mind the team executed it wonderfully. Solid team defense and courageous goalkeeping by Christine Tallon limited the Prospects chances. Although being outshot 8 to 1 in the first half the only chance to beat OFC was a clinical top shelf strike from 35 yards out. WFC Prospects grasped the lead 35 minutes into the match. OFC continued to stick to their defensive prowess shutting the door and frusterating the WFC attack. With things getting a bit more stretched out Okanagan FC had a few wonderful chances to tie up the match on late in the game when a buildup put Lana Finley in the box with just the goalkeeper to beat but her shot was snapped up by the Whitecaps goalkeeper to maintain the clean sheet. Final score Whitecaps Prospects 1 – Okanagan FC 0.

Sunday it was out to UBC stadium field to take on the Thunderbirds. Determined to continue the solid performce from the previous match Okanagan FC started with the same line up to see if they could capture a point from their sister school counterparts. Again, it would be the opposition that would get first on the score board when a 30 yard bullet went bar down and crossed the goal line. Thunderbirds would take the 1-0 lead into half time.

Okanagan FC made a few adjustments at half to see if they could respond and claw a goal back. They did well to create some good scoring opportunities but struggled to find a way past the T-birds goalkeeper. Thunderbirds notched another goal at the 73rd minute when a low driven shot squeeked past the OFC goalkeeper. Unfazed OFC continued their probing for a goal and were awarded with a 25yard free kick at the 85th minute. Stepping up to take it was Justine Drosdovech and she riffled a shot beating both the wall & the T-birds goalkeeper putting OFC on the scorecard. However, despite other attempts in the dying minutes OFC could not find the equalizer. Final Score Thunderbirds 2 – Okanagan FC 1.

“I am very happy with our performance this past weekend, it was the best I have seen this team play. We have set a new standard for ourselves now we need to maintain that level going into our final few matches.” Claire