Stelly’s Secondary’s senior boys soccer team scored the opening goal of the 2016 Colonist Shield final — but it was all Parkland in the second half.
The North Saanich school won the tier 2 league title, 4-2, in Central Saanich on Nov. 3, as the two Peninsula schools challenged each other for the trophy.
Stelly’s had won the teams’ only other match this season, 3-2, and was ranked number one heading into the final.
Parkland coach Brian Sutton says teamwork was the key to the win — especially after frustration set in after going down a goal at the half.
“The guys knew it could be better. They needed to play as a team, spread the field wide,” he said.
Once Ben Perdigao scored Parkland’s first goal, Sutton said the team settled down. And then rattled off three more goals in the half.
Stelly’s kept the pressure on and managed to add a goal late in the game.
“I thought in the first half we controlled the play and had a lot of chances,” said Stelly’s coach Ryan Braun. “Full credit to Parkland, when they had their chances they put them away.”
“The guys are disappointed, but that’s good ‘cause it means something to them.”
The AA boys soccer Island finals are Nov. 9 and 10.