Huntsville’s U18 Girls Strikers seize cup championship in nail-biting game

Huntsville U18G Strikers’ team – Top Row (from left ): Deb Smith (Manager), Avery Herr, Madelyn Zylstra, Megan Cambruzzi, Sophie Small, Paige Smith, Randi-Lynn Deline, Joey Currie, Carlos Burmeister (Coach) Bottom Row (from lef ): Riley Giles, Abby Ellis, Amanda Steel Coke, Peyton Burmeister, Sydney Stevens Absent: Megan Johnston, Anjali Jindal, Alisha Despres, Abby Scott, Alana Murphy, Kate Newberry, Leslie Cameron, Marsha Maynard (Assistant Coach)
Photos supplied.

By Carlos Burmeister

It was a wild Tuesday night in Orillia under the lights, as Huntsville’s U18 Girls’ Soccer Strikers clashed with the League-leading South Simcoe United (SSU) for the HDSL Cup Championship! Huntsville, who had advanced to the Cup finals following an earlier upset shoot-out thriller victory over Huronia away in Barrie, carried the energy into the match.

True to their name and character, Huntsville struck first in the opening half on a ripping volley shot by Joey Currie from the edge of the penalty box. It was short lived however, as SSU responded with their own to even the score. Currie, already nursing an injury, was soon after forced to watch from the sidelines due to the same injury, leaving the shortened Huntsville bench with no substitutes for the remainder of the game.

In spite of the setback, the second half saw Huntsville pick up the pace to grab the lead. Midway through the chapter, Huntsville’s utility player Riley Giles buried a rebound in tight quarters to put the Strikers ahead 2-1. The pressure continued, and Huntsville tallied another as dual role keeper-striker Megan Cambruzzi sniped the back of the SSU net off a magical pass from Paige Smith. But the hard fought 3-1 lead would not hold, and with just 10 minutes on the clock SSU closed the gap to 3-2 off a scramble deep in the Striker end. Fatigue was taking her toll, and the typically stingy defensive trio of Burmeister, Stevens, and Herr, who had cleared the Striker zone all game, could not stem the SSU onslaught. With only moments remaining, SSU slipped the ball into the Huntsville net, to even the match at 3-3, and force a shoot-out!

Would the late momentum shift to SSU carry over? Huntsville had been here before.

A roller coaster of goals, saves, and near misses ensued for the first 5-shot round. The teams remained dead locked, forcing a sudden-death round of kicks. Enter Amanda Steel Coke, wearing the keeper jersey in her dual keeper-midfielder role for the Strikers. She made no mistake on her penalty kick, then abruptly marched to the goal line and batted away the “must-score” pressure shot by SSU. The field erupted, Huntsville were champions!

Huntsville U18G Strikers link together during shoot-out victory

A special thanks to all who supported the team this season, and team sponsors Dolf & Anzie Witlox.

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