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Head Coach Assistant Coach
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Tom Ogle Memorial Tournament
The team took to the field against London North in the first match. Early on a nice through ball from Justus Kerkohf to Dilly Ohuegbe almost produced the opening goal but a nice save from the London keeper kept the game scoreless. The Blaze continued to press with Ricky Primeau being denied by the London goalie twice. Nik Van Bilsen solved the London defence when he sprinted down the far wing past the defender and placed the ball nicely inside the far post to put the Jr. Blaze ahead 1-0.
The Blaze looked to increase their lead
and had a glorious chance when Matt Cservik found Primeau who passed
to Ohuegbe only to have the ball sail just high over the crossbar.
Moments later Marcus Dusseault found Jenelle Labadie open, her hard
shot found the post and the keeper was able to smother the ball.
London started to find their legs and
had a dangerous chance with a free kick outside the 18 yard box. An
astute Josh Graham in the Blaze net was able to make the save and
keep the score 1-0 Bluewater at half. The second half saw Bluewater determined to increase their lead. Dylan Wardell pushed the ball ahead to a streaking Primeau but the shot sailed just wide and high over the cross bar. Nik Van Bilsen was able to make another great run and a beautiful cross found Primeau in front, but the goal was disallowed on an offside call. The ensuing goal kick saw Van Bilsen first to the ball he buried the shot behind the North goalie for a 2-0 Bluewater lead. London was determined to get back into the game. A nifty run by the midfielder and a good cross found the foot of the London forward, who tipped the ball past Graham. 2-1 Blaze. Bluewater continued to be the aggressor after the London goal. They were rewarded when a high shot from Ohuegbe hit the crossbar but a good follow up run by Wardell allowed him to convert for a 3-1 Blaze lead. The Blaze defence of Mitch Leblanc, Stephen Blysniuk, Ryan Tanner and Brent Arthur were solid in the victory.
Game #2 vs Cambridge.
With a semi final birth already locked up, the Blaze prepared to lock horns with their WOYSL rival Cambridge. Cambridge forced the play early but a solid effort by Josh Graham in net turned them aside. Bluewater countered when a lovely corner kick from Nik Van Bilsen found Matt Doidge, but the shot was deflected wide by a Cambridge defender. Cambridge proved to be a worthy opponent and looked to score when a wide cross into the middle was blasted at the Blaze net. Graham made a fabulous save but the rebound found another Cambridge player whose shot beat Graham but could not beat the heads up play of Ryan Tanner who cleared the ball off the goal line to keep the game scoreless. With time running out before the half, Cambridge countered a Blaze attack and were rewarded when their forward broke past the stopper and sweeper to beat Graham. 1-0 Cambridge at half. The second half saw both teams trade chances but no team was able to capitalize. The final score was Cambridge 1-0.
Semi Final Game vs. Stratford
In the Semi Final game, Bluewater exhibited crisp passing to put Stratford on their heels early. Dusseault to Labadie to Ohuegbe to Doidge resulted in the ball sailing just wide a minute into the game. Bluewater forced the play and were unlucky when Dusseault sailed the ball high over the crossbar, Ohuegbe was stopped on a break away and Labadie was denied by the Stratford keeper after weaving through the defence. Bluewater looked to take the lead with a Free Kick but Brent Arthur was also turned aside by the strong play of the Stratford goalie.
Bluewater finally solved the Stratford
defence (who had not surrendered a goal in the tourney) when Nik Van
Bilsen was sent down the wing by Christian McCormick. Van Bilsen
made a nice cross to Ohuegbe who buried the ball into the top corner
of the net. 1-0 Jr. Blaze. The second half saw Bluewater dominate Stratford. Hard work by Primeau allowed Labadie to win the ball. A hard shot beat the keeper but not the post. A through ball to Wardell looked to increase the Blaze lead but the ball slid just wide of the post to keep the score 1-0 Bluewater. Another series of great passing Wardell to Dusseault across to Ohuegbe for a header did not materialize into a goal when the ball just missed high over the bar. The Blaze Midfield controlled the game and a nice pass from the middle to Ohuegbe resulted in a 2-0 lead. The Blaze defence played solidly led by Blysniuk, Arthur, Leblanc, Tanner and Cservik.
Josh Graham the goal keeper was rewarded
with a shut out.
Final vs. Cambridge
The final saw the Blaze play Cambridge once more. The Blaze were determined to amend for the 1-0 loss in Round Robin play. The game was played in less than ideal conditions with a driving rain and cool temperatures. A slippery ball and field, did not allow either team to effectively pass the ball. With a minute left in the game, a throw-in deep in Bluewater territory skidded to the middle of the box and Cambridge was able to score taking the Championship by a 1-0 score.
The team played extremely hard and look forward to further improvement when they travel to Tillsonburg this weekend to play in the WOYSL Kick Off Cup.
Great Silver Medal showing Bluewater!
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