More soccer gold for OKM

Photo: Contributed - OKM

After missing out on a chance for a fourth straight podium finish, the Okanagan Mission Huskies boys soccer team returned with a vengeance.

The Huskies captured the Provincial AA boys soccer title in Burnaby, Wednesday, shutting out Sa-Hali Secondary of Kamloops 2-0 in the championship game.

It was sweet revenge of sorts for the Huskies, who lost to Sa-Hali 2-0 in the Thompson-Okanagan final prior to the provincials.

OKM went through the tournament unbeaten, outscoring their opponents 15-3.

They didn't allow a goal in the knockout round, taking down R.A. McMath Secondary of Richmond 5-0 in the semi-final before shutting down Sa-Hali in the final.

Carl Vanderkraats played all five games in goal, earning shutouts in the semi and the final.

Assistant coach Keith Shanks said the team's other goaltender was injured in a mountain biking accident a week before the provincial tournament, meaning Vanderkraats had to go all the way in goal.

Midfielder Sam MacDonald was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player and shared the Golden Boot, with four goals during the tournament.

"We are a very skilled team. A lot of our kids play for high-end teams like TFC and Kelowna United, and they've been together for two years," said Shanks.

"At the end of the day, they played together really well as a team. We have some outstanding kids, but it was a real solid team effort."

The Huskies soccer program has been around for just five years.

During that time, they have won two provincial titles, finished second once and third once.

With many players set to return for another year, Shanks hopes to be able to make a strong run again in 2016.