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Friday, November 16, 2012
Sports
The NOW COQUITLAM, PORT COQUITLAM, PORT MOODY, ANMORE AND BELCARRA
sports@thenownews.com
Stars shine in Valley final showdown Dan Olson sports@thenownews.com Last year’s tough defeat has proved fodder for this year’s incredible win — with hopefully more to follow. The Archbishop Carney Stars have their sights set on a provincial top-three finish, after acing the Fraser Valley AA senior boys soccer championships with a 5-0 trouncing of Aldergrove last Thursday. Anchored by strong veteran leadership and a 19-player roster that rolled up its sleeves, the Stars grabbed an early lead on Mike North’s marker 10 minutes into the game. They kept up the pressure but weren’t able to add to it until the second half, when they poured it on late. North and Jorge Brizuella both counted twice, with Steve Porcellato adding a single. “The boys had been playing as a team all season and we focused on that,” noted Carney coach Mate Zvicer. “We made sure everyone knew their role and to keep playing as a team, to worry about things in their circle of control and forgot about the rest.” “I think that the thirst It was the to win is something third straight that the Port most of these guys are year Coquitlam private born with.” school had made it to the AA Fraser Valley final. It turned out to be a perfect circle Mate Zvicer at the Valleys, Archbishop Carney coach as the squad defeated Sands 3-0 and Abbotsford Traditional 5-2 to advance to the final. In the game against Abby Traditional, the Stars trailed at halftime but scored two times to take a temporary lead. Abby rallied and forced extra time, but the Stars stormed out and scored three times to earn a berth to the B.C.s and a spot in the Valley final. A veteran core has been the driving force all season, Zvicer said. “These guys play as a team and want to win for each other. They also love to win and expect so much from themselves, I think that the thirst to win is something most of these guys are born with.” Leading the way are Bryan Cadman, Anthony Martin and Alex Dalla Zanna, each of whom plays a big role in inspiring and firing up their teammates. Their lone loss came in the second game of the regular season, 1-0 to Thomas Haney, and was quickly turned into a learning experience. Carney outscored its competition 49-5 during league play. At the B.C. Catholic championships, the Stars projected a disciplined purpose in pursuit of the title, prevailing 1-0 over Notre Dame for the crown. If they can continue that tempo at next week’s provincials, which start Monday at Burnaby West complex, the Stars should be able to improve upon last season’s fifth-place showing. “We have been in some tough spots this season and they have been able to pull through using their experience,” Zvicer added. “Their soccer sense and calmness on the ball is so hard to teach, it comes with all the knowledge they are able to gain and hold onto playing in so many situations.” Carney opens the provincials Monday 11 a.m. against D.P. Todd at Burnaby West. They also play
Lisa King/NOW
The Archbishop Carney Stars’ Steve Porcellato, above right, motors past an Aldergrove defender during last week’s Fraser Valley AA senior boys soccer final. At right, team members Alex Bauman, Porcellato, Alex Dalla Zanna and Bryan Cadman celebrate their 50 shutout victory in the final. Gulf Islands at 2:45 p.m., and continue the tournament on Tuesday, 9 a.m. against Summerland. The B.C. championship final is slated for 11:45 a.m. on Wednesday.
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Score Card
Locals celebrate national soccer championships Paul Clerc, Sarah Hannigan, Navid Mashinchi, Richard Meister, Milad Mehrabi, Tyler Mertens and Kristen Santema have something to celebrate. The seven local products were part of two separate national championships last week, as Clerc, Mashinichi, Meister, Mehrabi and Mertens helped the University of B.C. Thunderbirds collect the men’s Canadian Interuniversity Sport soccer title with a 1-0 victory over the Cape Breton Capers in Quebec City. Hannigan and Santema, meanwhile, were part of the Trinity Western University Spartans’ 1-0 penalty kick win over the Queen’s Gaels in the CIS women’s championship final in Victoria. Fifth-year goalkeeper Kristen Funk stymied the Gaels shooters in the shootout, stopping Jessie De Boer’s shot. For her efforts, the first team all-Canadian all star was named player of the game. “I think our nerves caused us to play a little bit out of how we normally play, but credit to my kids for hanging in there,” Trinity Western coach Graham Roxburgh said after wrapping up his fourth CIS women’s title. Both Hannigan, of Anmore, and Santema, of Coquitlam, are in their third year with the Spartans. Earning a position on the tourney all-star team was University of Victoria Vikings’ Jaclyn Sawicki, a Coquitlam native and member of Canada’s under-20 squad. UVic finished the tourney in third place. The T-birds’ triumph, meanwhile, capped a perfect season where the Point Grey men’s program stormed into the championship series undefeated, and proceeded to outscore the opposition 8-0 over three games. “I’m really proud of my boys and the way they battled today and throughout this tournament. History was made today, as we were undefeated this season. It’s a real pleasure to work with this group,” UBC head coach Mike Mosher said. A third-year fullback who was earlier selected to the Canada West all-star squad, Clerc was named a CIS championship all star. Clerc and Mehrabi are Coquitlam products, while Mertens is from PoCo. Mashinchi and Meister both hale from Port Moody. Teammate Gagandeep Dosanjh, a forward, was selected the tourney’s MVP.
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