Seeking a second consecutive Jubilee Trophy as national women’s soccer champions, Surrey United was the dominant team through round robin play.
But in the final, United came out second best, falling 1-0 to Ontario’s North London Galaxy in Monday afternoon’s championship game in Winnipeg.
United was the only team with a perfect record after round robin play, easily winning their group with four wins in as many games, outscoring the opposition 17-0.
Surrey clinched first place in their group Saturday and had an off day before the final, while North London needed a win Sunday to go to 3-0-1 (won-lost-tied) and finish atop their group.
United began their march to the final with a 5-0 win over the WSA All-stars on Wednesday, getting two goals from Nicole Stewart and one each from April Coffin, Katie Thorlakson and Julia Lauzon.
Their second win was a 1-0 victory over the Edmonton Angels on Thursday, with Rachael Pelat netting the United goal.
Pelat had a hat trick in Friday’s 7-0 romp past Yellowknife. Thorlakson, Stewart, Alexandra Benes and Chelsey Hannesson were the other goal scorers.
Even with a perfect record, Saturday’s game against a 3-0 (won-lost) Hollandia Impact team from Saskatchewan would decide first place in the group and a berth in the Jubilee Trophy final.
The game was not a contest, as Surrey cruised to a 4-0 win. Faythe Lou scored twice, Thorlakson added her third of the tournament, and an own goal against the Impact accounted for the scoring.
- In its first trip to the Challenge Cup national championship competition in close to a decade, Surrey United placed fifth at the 12-team tournament last weekend in Winnipeg.
Surrey had a win and a loss in round robin play, opening with a 3-1 victory over the defending national champion HUSA Alumni of Saskatoon. Colin Streckmann, Steve McAuley and Ryan Reynolds were the Surrey goal scorers.
In a game Friday that would decide top spot in Group B, United fell 2-1 to Edmonton Scottish. Jeff Clarke netted the Surrey goal.
In the playoff round, Surrey was eliminated from championship contention with a 4-0 loss to Royal Select Beauport of Quebec on Saturday.
In consolation play, the blanked Halifax City 4-0 on Sunday.
United then clinched a fifth-place finish with a 1-0 win over Ontario’s AEK London on Monday afternoon. Sean Einersson tallied for Surrey.
- Surrey United won a national title at the boys Under-16 Cup in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island.
United defeated the Erin Mills Eagles of Ontario 5-3 in penalties after the two sides played to a draw in Monday’s championship game. Lucas Johnson earned the shutout in the Surrey goal.
Hugo Vieira, Josh Taylor, Bavi Dhaliwal, Mathew Gains and Obraj Khela scored in the shootout for Surrey, while Johnson stopped one of four Ontario shots.
United was a perfect 4-0 in round robin play, outscoring the opposition 17-2.
Netting goals for Surrey in the round robin were Kyle Sohi with four, Amritpal Jagdeo and Brar Dilpreet with three each, Manveer Dhillon with two, Dhaliwal, Joel Waterman, Mathew Bains, Vaggeli Boucas, and Bhavrah Saran with singles.
- Surrey United placed sixth at the boys under-14 national tournament in Vaughn, Ontario.
United split their two round robin games, defeating Mount Pearl of Newfoundland and Labrador 2-0 on a pair of goals by Wyatt Gilbert, before losing 4-1 to Quebec’s Lanaudiere-Centre. Ryan Donald was the lone Surrey scorer.
United fell 4-0 to the North Mississauga Panthers in the quarterfinal round of the player, then blanked the Sherwood Parkdale Rangers of Prince Edward Island 10-0 on consolation play.
Gilbert, Riley Asserlind, Joseph Gindo and Felipe Vieira netted two goals each, with Donald and Joel Harrison adding singles.
Vieira added two more goals in a 4-2 loss to the Mount Hamilton Avalanche on Monday.
- At U14 girls nationals in Vaughn, Ont., Semiahmoo Peninsula-based South Fraser FC placed seventh. They were knocked from title contention Sunday, after losing to Quebec Armada Chaudiere-Est on penalty kicks.
Following the loss, South Fraser rebounded Monday with a 2-0 win over the Saskatchewan provincial champions.