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Island all stars hit the soccer pitch

VISL All-Star game Saturday at Hampton, results from LIWSA all star games

It’s all-star season for the Island’s senior soccer leagues.

On Saturday the Lower Island Women’s Soccer Association hosted two all-star matches at Westhills Stadium in Langford, while the senior men’s Vancouver Island Soccer League games will play this Saturday at Hampton Turf.

A mix of premier and Div. 1 representatives played in the LIWSA All-Star game, which ended 1-1 after the regulation 90 minutes. Team White won in penalty kicks, 5-4, when Andrea Strebel of Nanaimo United clinched it.

“I was really pleased with the enthusiasm, effort and standard of play,” said director LIWSA competitions chair Randy Wachtin. “The event went off well, everybody left with smiles.”

Haley Burns of the Vic A’s scored just over a minute into the game to make it 1-0 for Team White when her shot deflected off a defender and beat Team Black goalie Olivia deGoede of Prospect Lake. Ten minutes later Kelly Forbes, also of Prospect Lake, evened the game at one from a loose scramble in front of the White goal.

The second LIWSA game featured Team Black, consisting of players from Div. 2 and 3A, winning 6-2 over Team White, made up of players from the Div. 3B and the over-30 A and B divisions.

“The crowd was pretty into it with signs and cheers, and at one point there was a distinct yell of ‘Go Mom!’ that everyone heard, a pretty fitting moment for the day,” Wachtin said.

Team Black’s Emma Maynard of Peninsula D3A scored the first and last goals of the game. Also scoring for Black was Nicole Pugh (Cowichan), Loria Hales (Castaways FC), Sarah Bryson (Castaways Utd.) and Joleen Hook (Cordova Bay Renegades). Tracy Forsberg (Castaways United O30A) and Sadie Quintal (Castaways) scored for Team White.

Passes to Steven Nash Fitness World and athletic therapy sessions with Katie Pyne, who interned with the Highlanders FC, were among the prizes given out. Game MVPs won season tickets and a scarf from the Highlanders FC.

MVP winners were  Team White’s Samantha Kennedy (Vic West Premier) and to Team Black’s Kymber Gale (Saanich Fusion FC Premier) in the premier/Div. 1 game, and Team White’s Holli Kotylak (Ladysmith) and Team Black’s Nicole Pugh (Cowichan) in the Div. 2 and 3A vs. Div. 3B and over-30 A and B game.

It was the fifth annual LIWSA All-Star game and Wachtin said the goal is to have it return to Westhills Stadium as an annual affair, an event the league hopes to grow.

This Saturday at 3 p.m. is the VISL men’s Div. 1/2 All-Star game at Hampton Turf.

VISL All -Star rosters

Playing for Team Green are: Jordie Hughes, Paul Vandenboomen, Kellen Holden and Doug Joyce of Bays United, Justin Parish of the Castaways, Brad Archibald, Bram Taylor and Joel Wilson of Cowichan, Quinn Van Gylswyk of Gorge, Tony Maestrello, Paddy Greig and Mike Greenaway of Nanaimo, Mathew Ablitt of Prospect Lake, Ryan Hulstein of the Saanich Fusion, Nick Filipchuk, Chris Wellsman and Stuart Bancroft of Vic West, Jose Muro of Cowichan Div. 2, Kean deVries of the Lakehill Reds and Shaun Gurney of Vic West Div. 2. John Garvey is Team Green’s honourary captain. Team staff is Glen Martin and Kevin James from Cowichan.

Playing for Team Red & White is: Matthew Northrup and Miguel Romeo of Bays United), Tyler Hughes, Jesse Winter and Ryan Andre of Cowichan, Ryan Lichtensteiger of Gorge, Patrick Nelson, Cooper Barry, Cardin Davis, Matthias Raps and Paul Contumelias of the Saanich Fusion, Anthony Bennet of Saltspring, Robbie Heggelund and Blake Ridley of Sooke, Jared Atchison, Aaron Murphy and Tyler Laing of Vic West, Garry Saunders of the Gordon Head Blazers Div. 2, and Chris Perreboom and Josiah Mori of the Saanich Fusion Div. 2. Red and White’s honourary captain is George Smith. Team staff  is Steph Steiner and Murray Smith of the Saanich Fusion.