The Gleneagle Talons senior boys soccer team has never qualified for the provincial AAA championship tournament.
That changes if it wins one more game.
The Talons will play for third place and the final qualifying berth in provincials for the Fraser North zone on Tuesday, Nov. 12, after the team defeated the New Westminster Hyacks, 2-1 in extra time, Thursday, Nov. 7, at New West Secondary.
After spotting an early 1-0 advantage to the Hyacks, which won the Burnaby-New West league title for the first time in 35 years, Brayden Truong got Gleneagle back on even terms when he hooked a free kick into the Hyacks goal right at the end of the first half.
Neither side scored in the back-and-forth second half, setting the stage for Ali Haji’s winner with the clock running out in extra time.
Talons coach Frank Abbinante said getting to provincials “would mean everything to us” following a season in which the team finished in third place in league play with four wins and three losses.
“This is a special group of boys who have bought into our coaching ways and strategies,” Abbinante said. “The boys are stoked and are coming together as a team.”
Abbinante said he hopes the momentum from Thursday’s emotional victory will carry Gleneagle through its third-place match against Westview from Maple Ridge, which defeated the Pitt Meadows Marauders in a back door match that was also played Thursday.
“We still have some work to do,” Abbinante said, adding the Wildcats is a solid opponent.
The match begins at noon at Pitt Meadows Secondary.
It will precede the championship final at 2 p.m. between the Heritage Woods Kodiaks and the Burnaby North Vikings. Both of those teams have already secured their berths in provincials, which will be played Nov. 21-23 at the Burnaby Lake Sports Complex.
📣 Got an opinion on this story or any others in the Tri-Cities? Send us a letter or email your thoughts or story tips to [email protected].
📲 Want to stay updated on Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, Port Moody, Anmore and Belcarra news? Sign up for our free daily newsletter.
💬 Words missing in an article? Your adblocker might be preventing hyperlinked text from appearing.
