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

Okanagan FC made their way down to the coast this past weekend to face off against Surrey United SC on Saturday and TSS on Sunday. Carrying only 12 players the travel and depleated bench made it for a tough weekend in which OFC dropped both games 3-0 to Surrey and 4-0 to TSS.

With several athletes celebrating their grad weekend Okanagan FC had to make the journey down to the coast with just one subsitute. Although the extra game time was welcome it was hard playing a back to back series with two solid teams. Surrey United SC was first to take a bite out of the OFC 2 game unbeaten streak as they fielded a team with former national team player Katie Thorlakson. Surrey dominated the match from the starting whistle as OFC struggled to find their legs and adjust to the grass. Giving up 6 corners in the first 20 minutes OFC was bending but did not break and managed to keep the score sheet clean. It wasn’t until 25 minutes into the match that OFC setted into the game and had some good spells when they knocked the ball around quickly and created some chances of their own. However, it was Surrey who notched the first goal of the game from a great strike outside the 18. Surrey would captialize twice more before the end of the game claiming the 3-0 win.

Sunday against TSS (who have just come off a victory vs Whitecaps Prospects) OFC was a little more battered and bruised but they were gunning for a good game seeing that they would be playing against UBC Okanagan teammate Jennifer Kidd. TSS played a strong possession game and were extremely threating up from with U17 National team player Summer Clarke. This speedy, skillful striker was a handful for the OFC defense as she could turn on a dime and rip shots. TSS found the back of the net 10 minutes into the match as they broke through and beat OFC gk short side. Marissa Klees had one of Okanagan FC’s best chances in the first half as she fired a shot that beat the TSS goalkeeper but not the post. TSS continued with their stong play and found the back of the net again before the half. In second half OFC broke through a few times and were awarded corners but they were unable to really test the TSS goalkeeper. As legs began to tire the game opened up more for the home team and TSS got two more goals befor the final whistle winning the match 4-0.

“It is always hard playing when you have a shorter bench and no one enjoys giving up points as we are all very competitive. However,we were up against some fantastic players this weekend which really stretched us and forced us out of our comfort zone. This is an important learning opportunity for us as we strive to improve our own play.” Claire

Coming off a tie the previous day versus Coquitlam Metro Ford SC Okanagan FC wanted to keep the ball rolling in their favour as they took on Abbotsford SC.

Okanagan FC did well to neutralize the dangerous players from the Abbotsford side and knocked around the ball well in the first half. Both sides had a few chances to go ahead as each team battled for supremacy. OFC was the first to strike at the 20 min mark when Madeliene Greig was slotted a great through ball by Marissa Klees. Beating her defender and riffling a shot which was stopped by the Abbotsford gk however, Madie pounced on the rebound and notched her first of the season. With the upper hand OFC had to work even harder as Abbotsford forged on digging for a goal of their own. As more pressure was put on the Okanagan FC defense Abbotsford SC were provided a series of corner kicks which were turned away. Abbotsfords best chance came in the 31st minute from a long range strike which hit the upper 90 then bounced back onto the pitch rolling across the six yard box, luckily no Abbotsford player was on the doorstep. At the half Okanagan FC went in with the 1-0 lead.

A few changes in the second half provided some of the first year players an opportunity to show what they could do and they were equal to the challenge. Abbotsford came out hard looking for the equalizer but Okanagan FC did well to thwart the attack. Looking to be a bit more direct Abbotsford managed to get numerous opportunities from corner kicks but again they were unable to convert. When OFC secured the ball they became even more dangerous attacking with speed working hard down both flanks of the field. It was one of these break outs in which Clare Murphy whipped a cross into Lana Finley who found herself 1 v 1 inside the box. With a little shimmy to shake off the defender Lana slotted the ball into the back of the net putting OFC up by 2 at the 51st minute. OFC had another fantastic chance when Kirsten Dodds whipped a ball in back post to Kyra-Rae Horvath but the shot was blocked. The score remainded 2-0 at the final whistle.

“It was a really good weekend for us to go undefeated at home. We are starting to come together well as a team and we are gaining more confidence in our abilities to be competitive in this league. It has been a slow build over the past 4 years but I think we are starting to figure it out. Having the support of UBC Okanagan has been instrumental as we continue to develop this summer program.” Claire

Next Matches:
June 9th @ Surrey United SC 2:00pm Cloverdale Athletic Park
June 10th @ TSS 1:30pm King George

In the first of a home and home series this weekend Okanagan FC stepped onto the pitch to face the League leaders Coquitlam Metro Ford who sit with 3 wins, 2 ties and one loss. OFC was ready for the challenge and came out strong from the whistle. Okanagan FC had a great opportunity to go up a goal in the 22 minute when Taylor Sarchet was fouled and awarded a penality shot but uncharacteristically Taylor placed the ball right into the mits of the CMFSC goalkeeper. OFC broke through the CMFSC defense 3 minutes later when Clare Murphy was sprung on the left side and burst past her check into the box, once again a OFC player was brought down and another penalty shot was awarded. Clare stepped up to take the shot and made no mistake this time putting Okanagan FC up 1-0. CMFSC stepped up the intensity determined to get the goal back but OFC was equal to the task and did well to hold off the attack taking the 1-0 lead into half time.

Second half began with a flurry of activity from Coquiltam as they came out pushing for the equalizer. Okanagan FC did well to raise their intensity to match up with the quicker pace of the game, and created some great chances early on to go up another goal. However, CMFSC managed to captialize on a defensive error at the top of the 18 which allowed for a rocket of a shot driven low into the OFC net in the 68th minute. The remaining minutes saw each team battling it out to see who could get the upper hand and CMFSC came close in the 88 minute when a long range shot was tipped over the bar by Christina Young. OFC did well to defend the resulting corner kick and the match ended in a 1-1 tie.

“It was a good, gritty team performance today. We responded well when the opponent tried to take over the match and we played strong until the final whistle.” Claire

Next match: Okanagan FC vs Abbotsford SC Sunday June 3 2:15pm Kick Off @ UBC Okanagan

Okanagan FC stepped onto the pitch this past weekend for their second home match up of the season verus Fraser Valley Action. Resound to put a more unified effort forward OFC came out looking to defend their turf. It was a back and forth endevour for the first 33 minutes in which both sides created chances to claim the first goal but it was FVA who broke the deadlock. A cracking 35 yard free kick that went bar down squeeked arcross the line put the Action up 1-0. Five minutes later a miscue in the midfield forced OFC defenders to play the ball out for a corner kick. The ensuing scramble in the six yard box found FVA pouncing on the knock down sliding it into the back of the net. Match remained 2-0 at the half.

A few changes made at half to help OFC deal with the pressure and heat didn’t pay off straight away. FVA secured their 3rd goal of the match a minute into the second half. A OFC defensive error created the opportunity when an attempted clear dropped onto the foot of a FVA striker at the top of the 18. OFC finally made it onto the score board after Lana Finley was fouled in the box making way for a penalty shot. Taylor Sarchet stepped up to take the shot and did well to slot the ball past veteran CIS goalkeeper Kirsten Funk. It remained 3-1 at the final whistle.

“It was a better preformance today however, we need to be more consistent playing a high level game for 90 minutes. There were some good momements of ball posession but we were never really threatening going forward which is something we will continue to work on.” HC