QUINTE WEST — Saskatoon Alliance’s U17 boys team kept Team Saskatchewan’s title hopes alive in the 2024 Canada Soccer Toyota National Championships in Sydney, Nova Scotia. They are on top of Group B after three games.
Saskatoon Alliance’s latest victim is Edmonton BTB after a tough 1-0 win over the Alberta side on Saturday, Oct. 12, at the Ness Timmons Field courtesy of a Rowen Gresty free kick in the ninth minute.
Gresty’s free-kick came after Nazar Bulyhin was fouled about 40 yards outside the box. The ball was sailing toward the left side of the BTB goalie, who correctly guessed the ball's direction. However, the ball bounced off the head of an Alberta player and went inside the net.
Alberta tried to level the entire game, but Team Saskatchewan’s defence successfully thwarted their every attempt.
Saskatoon Alliance’s other win was against New Brunswick’s Fredericton DSA, 2-1, on Friday, Oct. 11, at Ness Timmons Field.
Saskatoon Alliance will play against Prince Edward Island FC on Sunday, Oct. 13, at 3 p.m. (noon Saskatchewan time) at McKinnon Field. A sweep would guarantee them a spot in the finals, where they will face the top team in Group A.
Manitoba’s Winnipeg AK SA and the Thornhill Bolts of Ontario are tied on top of Group A with 2-1 records. Still, the former enjoys a three-goal difference against the latter.
In the U17 girls division, Saskatoon Alliance completed a 6-0 demolition of Yellowknife Bay SC for its first win. They lost to BTB, 2-1, and 5-0 against Winnipeg 1v1 Futbol. They will close the tournament against St. John’s FC on Sunday, Oct. 13.
Saskatoon Alliance’s U15 girls’ squad is in third place in Group B with a 2-1 record after beating Guelph SC, 3-1, on Friday, Oct. 11, and PEI Charlottetown, 2-1, on Saturday, Oct. 12, at Centennial Park in Quinte West. They will play Langley United SA on Sunday, Oct. 13.
In the U15 boys’ division, Astra Soccer Academy failed to advance to the semifinals after a shocking 8-0 loss against Burlington Force SA on Saturday, Oct. 12. They will play against CS Montreal Centre on Sunday, Oct. 12, for at least a fifth-place finish.
