And then there were two.
The St. Andrew聮s Sabres and Lambrick Park Lions have advanced to the Colonist Cup championship final after outlasting their opponents in a steady downpour at the University of Victoria turf fields on Tuesday afternoon.
It聮s the Sabres who continue to write an incredible Cinderella story as the minnows of Lower Island high school soccer knocked off the Glenlyon Norfolk School Gryphons 2-1 in one semifinal.
The Sabres fittingly splashed about the soaked turf and celebrated the win.
Lambrick Park managed to hang on for a 4-3 victory over the Claremont Spartans in the other.
聯Minnows, yeah, that聮s the way it is,聰 said smiling Sabres coach John Mennie. 聯It is a feel-good story, it聮s so good for them to make it to the Colonist Cup as a single-A school.
聯We have a population of about 350 at our school so we have to use everybody. There聮s a lot of talent and they work hard. There are no egos and they do as they are asked, and we聮re enjoying this 聴 let聮s be honest.聰
How can they not after first defeating Belmont in the challenge game before knocking of another triple-A school, No. 1 Stelly聮s, last week in quarter-final play.
On Tuesday, the Sabres 聴 using junior team (Grade 8s and 9s) members for depth 聴 opened the scoring just before the half as Fabian De la Fuente finished off a cross from Tarnvir Vhandal after some fabulous footwork at the edge of Gryphons keeper Ari Metra聮s box. Emile Rehalk looked like he might have got a boot on it as a deflection, but the Sabres did eventually credit De la Fuente.
Vhandal made it 2-0 off a free kick from just outside the box as he kept it low to Metra聮s left.
Jason Bradbury got one back for GNS off a penalty kick on a hand ball that St. Andrew聮s keeper James Saville couldn聮t get to.
Earlier, up 1-0, Saville made a brilliant diving save to his right against the Island single-A champion Gryphons. The two teams could clash again later this week as the provincial tournament begins Thursday at the UVic and GNS fields.
聯We went into Tier II because our goal has always been provincials,聰 said Mennie. 聯The [Colonist Cup] challenge game against Belmont was successful and then there was the big upset against Stelly聮s.聰
The Sabres 聴 who topped the Tier II standings before meeting Tier I competitors in the Colonist Cup playdowns 聴 will once again be underdogs against Lambrick Park. The Lions are defending Colonist Cup champions and came back from an early 1-0 deficit to down the Spartans on the adjacent UVic field.
聯We聮re thrilled because it proves it聮s no fluke. We聮re the defending champs and we聮re getting back to the final,聰 said Lions coach Heather Weir. 聯We聮re so proud.
聯I聮m not surprised it聮s St. Andrew聮s. They聮re Tier II, a total unknown, but this will be a big game, a good tilt. I heard the upset against Stelly聮s was no fluke.聰
Lambrick Park 聴 which is heading to the Island championship Monday to Wednesday in Campbell River 聴 went up 2-1 on goals from Felipe Duchene and Harrison Kettyls. Tasos Liaros tied it at 2-2 for the Spartans, but Everett Fisher got it right back for a 3-2 Lions聮 lead.
Spencer Scotney bagged the fourth Lambrick Park goal before Claremont聮s Yvan Atemgoua 聴 with his second of the afternoon 聴 cut the lead to 4-3. Lions keeper Matt Turner made an excellent stop to keep it at 4-2.
The Sabres and Lions now advance to the Colonist Cup final Nov. 14 at UVic聮s Centennial Stadium.
