Dubbed the Big Horns for a reason, the Kootenay South Youth Soccer Association U14 boys’ select soccer team came up big indeed last week as they returned from Kootenay-Columbia playdowns in Creston as zone champions.
The local U14 team came oh so close last year, losing out in a final-match shootout against Nelson, a team that went on to place second overall in the 2011provincials.
This year the Big Horns were looking to climb all the way to the top, yet first had to butt heads with last year’s champion Nelson, as well as Cranbrook and Creston.
The KSYSA squad consisting of players from Greater Trail and Castlegar were tested immediately.
Facing Nelson in the opening match, the Big Horns turned in a dominating performance, beating down their nemesis by a score of 5-2.
The Big Horns continued to play solid defensively and an explosive offensive front netted four more markers against Cranbrook, as they cruised to a 4-1 triumph in their second match.
One more win would guarantee KSYSA U14’s a provincial berth.
The Big Horns faced a tough Creston side in the final match.
Creston kept it close, but the Big Horns were too much, as they shut down the Creston offence, rolling to a convincing 3-nil shutout and a ticket to the B.C. Championship as the Columbia/Kootenay representative.
The team heads to the B.C. Soccer Association boys provincial championship in Aldergrove July 4-8.