The Yorkton United U14 Core Real Estate Fury soccer team travelled to Regina this weekend (July 6-8) to compete in the annual A.C.F.C. Summerfest soccer tournament.
"A betterdescription of the team would be a handful of U14 Fury players and a handful of U12 Chelsea players making up the desired amount of 11 players enough to fill all positions on the field headed to Regina to compete in the tournament and compete they did," insists coach Chad Grodzinski.
The Yorkton Fury first faced the Q.C United 2000s and although they dominated the play some missed chances and poor officiating allowed the 2000s tosqueakby Yorkton with a 2-1 victory. Saturday sprung moreobstaclesas one of the Fury players had to leave Regina for another priorcommitmentwhich left the Fury playing short a man with only 10 on the field. The Fury faced Q.C. United Green Saturdaymorning. The game got off to a good start as Yorkton's Derek Campbell scored the first goal but Q.C. was able to tie the game up when they were awarded a penalty shot. Derek Campbell fired back with three more goals for a total of four while Thomas Djagowez added two and Matthew Mandziuk and Spencer Steele added singles. Yorkton went on to a 8-1 victory.
"The early goals by Campbell and some key saves by our keeper Zach Shearer helped the momentum get rolling and took the wind out of the sails of Q.C. and most important the rest of the team did not let up."
Up next for the Fury was South West United, a team based out of Swift Current and area whom will be competing at Saskatchewan Summer Games. The South West team came with a full bench ready to make fresh substitutions in the hot afternoon sun. In the first half the play went back and forth with Yorkton out chancing South West. Derek Campbell opened the scoring to give Yorkton a 1-0 lead at halftime. The fresh legs of the South West United team soon began to take advantage of the tired Yorkton team as they began to control more of the play. Yorkton held their ground but South West were able to put two past the keeper to go up 2-1.
It was clear that Yorkton was running out of gas but late in the half Yorkton made a push as Derek Campbell scored twice to give Yorkton the lead and then the Fury buckled downdefensivelyto get the victory.
"It was a great effort by the boys. They were out of gas but not out of heart and that's something that you just can't coach. We didn't make it to the tournament final but the boys truly played like champions this weekend."
