The men's soccer playoffs got underway last Sunday (March 25) at Brennan Park's all-weather field resulting in some excellent match-ups.
Despite starting off well - energized after tying top seeded Whistler last week - Rona lost to Ellis in shoot-outs in a tear jerking game. Russell Adams scored first for Rona and controlled the play for most of the first half but Mica Cianca equalized if for Ellis, tying it up 1-1 halfway through.
Russell Adams scored for Rona while the game went into overtime, but Ellis soon took over. Ellis dominated the game and capitalized on opportunities, but couldn't find away to stick the ball in the back of the net.
Ellis won in the fourth round of shots. "It was a good game, a good battle," said coach Dan Ellis of Ellis. "The second half we realized we needed to get back into the game."
Brew Pub and Lil'WAT7uhl, meanwhile, were having it out one field over. It was another hard contested game with Brew Pub going up almost at the 30-minute mark of the first half time by a goal from Jordon O'Neil. Brew Pub had a slight edge in play although Lil'WAT7uhl wasn't without their chances when the team had a breakaway. But in a gutsy move, the Pub's charging keeper came 30 yards out to slide tackle the ball away from the Lil'WAT7uhl player. In the second half, Brew Pub called for a pass back when a Lil'WAT7uhl inadvertently touched the ball and the goalie picked it up, but no call was given.
Danny Kingston was one of Brew Pub's better players of the day, taking a few great chances in the second half before connecting on a through ball and sliding it past the keeper to make it 2-0.
Lil'WAT7uhl battled hard to the end and could have tied the game up if a few bounces had gone their way. They had a free header in the box and a couple of through balls which the Pub's keeper managed to gobble up.
Sea to Sky Courier beat Tantalus Toner handily in a 3-0 win with Matt Rollingson scoring all three goals, two of them on a penalty shot. With their recent success - finishing second in league play by leapfrogging both Ellis and Brew Pub - they are claiming to be the team to beat. Although Whistler might have something to say about that.
Whistler - which had a bye this week because they won the league - will play Brew Pub and Ellis will play Sea to Sky next Sunday at Brennan Park. The losers this week will play in a round-robin cup throughout the week.
