Not bad for a baseball school, eh?
Yeah, not bad, said a grinning Chris Fougner after delivering the winning penalty kick that secured a second straight Colonist Cup championship emblematic of the city high school senior boys soccer crown for the Lambrick Park Lions, more known for its baseball academy than its soccer achievements.
Thats the thing about this school, it attracts all the athletic kids, period, said Fougner, who was worn out after the 2-1 (5-3 in penalty kicks) victory over the St. Andrews Sabres, played before roughly 400 fans on a cool Wednesday night at UVics Centennial Stadium.
Fougner had opened the scoring in about the 28th minute of regulation on the strength of a strong run and cross by Spencer Scotney.
Fougner didnt perform his patented cartwheel in the celebration, although he was winding up for it.
I just ran out of room, said a smiling Fougner, who scampered half the length of the slick and beaten up field after bagging the first. Actually, I got tripped up.
Instead he flung into a forward roll in celebration.
But the Sabres came right back about three minutes later as Calvin Paterson evened it at 1-1.
The game eventually went to kicks, despite numerous scoring chances, including the two extra 15-minute halves. Fittingly, it was Fougner who finished it off after he had hit a post earlier and rapped a shot off the crossbar just before it went to kicks.
I was unlucky there for a bit, he said. Im just glad I got a chance again in penalty kicks. I knew I would.
It came after Lambrick keeper Matt Turner dove to his right to thwart Emil Rehaks offering from the penalty spot after Marko Bratanovic, Tarnvir Bhandal and Suhail Virk had made theirs for St. Andrews.
The Lions got the save they required, though.
I know. Just when we needed it, said Fougner of Turners game-saver.
Scotney, Jordan Van Stone (who scored the schools winner in the 2011 Colonist Cup in extra time), Mitch Bryan, and Allan Hasbani all scored their penalty kicks for the Lions, before Fougner finished it.
Its amazing, Lions coach Heather Weir said. To be defending champs and come in and win it again is unbelievable.
Every single guy dug deep tonight, for more than 100 minutes. Then my keeper steps up and makes a big save and all my shooters hit its amazing.
As exciting a win it was for the Lions, it was a gut-wrenching defeat for the Sabres, who enjoyed such an incredible campaign, especially throughout the Colonist Cup, where they played underdogs right through to he final.
Penalty kicks are always disappointing, said Sabres coach Mark Cristante. The guys played so hard.
Were super proud of them. Its not only about soccer, but the skills theyve learned for later on down the road in life. They taught me a lot about being good teammates to one another.
