Cliff Avenue United makes it four to final

 

 
 
 

Cliff Avenue United will join three other Burnaby teams in this weekend's Coastal Cup youth soccer finals in Richmond.

The under-18 Cliff girls' team got by Vancouver Island's Gorge FC 3-2 in a shootout in a late semifinal matchup in Victoria on Sunday to move on to the Coastal B Cup final against Surrey's CCB Elite at Minoru Park this Sunday.

Morag Desormeaux made two saves in the penalty-kick portion of the match and Isabel Sadowski popped the game-winner to highlight Cliff's comeback win.

Trailing 2-1 late in the game, Cliff's surprise cup run was in danger of ending but with virtually no time left on the clock, Danielle Tinoni scored the game-tying goal on a corner from Monica Gobbo to send the game into overtime.

Madisen Longo tied the game 1-1 in the first half.

"In the beginning of the year we weren't doing so great, but as soon as the cup came we haven't lost a game," said 22-year-old club coach Stephanie Pagliaro.

"It is nice to see them want everything at the same time. It something to be proud of. We are a real surprise cup team that was seeded in the bottom half."

Winning is no stranger to Pagliaro. The talented defender has been a winner with Cliff Avenue, the Burnaby Girls and Coquitlam in both Coastal and Provincial cups from u-14 to u-18. She went on to an all-conference career at Simon Fraser University.

"I've been lucky," said Pagliaro, who is taking a year away from soccer while she finishes up her studies. "I've always said No. 2 is the hardest. I hate losing."

Cliff Avenue takes on Central City at Minoru Park Sunday at 1 p.m.

Also taking part at the Coastal Cup weekend in Richmond are teams from the Burnaby Selects, South Burnaby Metro Club and local youth club New Westminster Barcelona in the u-15 girls' Coastal A Cup.

Barca breezed into cup play with a 7-1 victory over Central City Elite 97 in the opening round of 16 in April.

New West then posted a pair of shutouts to move into the divisional final, including a 1-0 semifinal win over Bays United.

Barcelona faces Coquitlam Metro-Ford Galaxy in the A cup final at Richmond High School on Saturday, beginning at 11: 30 a.m.

The Burnaby Selects are also scheduled for Saturday at Richmond High in the boys' u-13 final against Richmond United, beginning at 3: 30 p.m.

The South Burnaby Vipers are in the u-15 boys' Coastal B Cup final against Central City Elite. Game time is Saturday at 3: 15 p.m. at Minoru Park Field 2.

tberridge@royalcityrecord.com

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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