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Back-to-back city cups for Lambrick Lions

The Lambrick Park Lions made it two straight city boys soccer championships defeating the upstart St. Andrew’s Sabres 2-1

The Lambrick Park Lions made it two straight city boys soccer championships defeating the upstart St. Andrew’s Sabres 2-1 in a penalty kick shootout at UVic on Wednesday (Nov. 14).

The match was tied 1-1 at the first half and remained scoreless through the second half and 30 minutes of overtime.

“Both teams were great and the momentum switched back and forth constantly,” said Lions coach Heather Weir. “There were lots of opportunities, both sides moved the ball around great, a classic Colonist Cup final.”

Chris Fougner scored the only goal in regulation for the Lions, and was the last to touch the ball, scoring the deciding penalty kick to win the shootout 5-3 for Lambrick.

“I had confidence in all our guys, I told them before they went out (for penalty kicks) that I knew they could do it.”

Goalie Matt Turner was “amazing” and stopped the fourth Sabres penalty shooter, which made it 4-3 in for Lambrick, and set up Fougner’s game-clinching goal.

“Of course you always want to win it in regulation but you take it however you can get it,” Weir said.

Many times, however, the game nearly was decided in regulation. Two Sabres’ shots rung off the Lions’ cross bar, and two of Lambrick’s better shots just whistled past the Sabres’ net.

The Sabres are the 2011 single-A B.C. champs but lost that title in the B.C. final to the Glenlyon Gryphons this year.

The Lions recently finished fourth in the AA Islands, eliminated in the wildcard game for a spot in provincials by Gulf Island secondary, 3-0.

Sweeper Manmeet Parmar and defensive-mid Morgan Varley were among the stronger Grade 12 players that led Lambrick to success this year.

They’ll move on, meaning it could be a rebuilding year in 2013 for the Lions.

“We didn’t have a junior team this year so we’ll be drawing in some talent. It'll be a bit of a rebuild,” Weir said. “It’s always challenging to go win the title, and we want to go back-to-back-to-back. But it was challenging this year so we know it’s possible.”

sports@vicnews.com