The weather claimed all the mens’ games this past weekend with the exception of the Masters team which for the first time in seven years lost it’s second league game of the season losing 1-0 against Peace Arch United at South Surrey Athletic Park. Apparently there were plenty of chances at either end but Peace Arch got the only goal of the game.

On the ladies front our Womens premier team visited arch-rival Coquitlam City for a Friday night game on the turf in a critical league game that would go a long way in determining the outcome of the league championship. Our ladies did themselves a huge favour by winning a great game 4-2 and putting themselves into a virtually unassailable position, though not mathematically assured position, at the top of the table.

The win keeps United in first place in the division with a ten point margin over UBC and a fifteen point margin over Coquitlam. UBC has three games in hand on our ladies and Coquitlam has four games in hand but these two challengers both have to play each other twice. United, on the other hand have their destiny in their own hands and with only two league games remaining know that two wins will obviously see them mathematically clinch the championship.

For the game against Coquitlam, United were missing key players Martina Holan-Franko, Sara Maglio and Andrea Sumner but the rest of the squad seemed incredibly focused for the big game which they started in a determined manner and their overpowering play soon saw them quickly establish a three goal lead by the thirty minute mark. United opened the scoring with a quick counter-attack after five minutes when Natalie Halcro’s precise pass sent Sharon Lehnert racing clear and she made no mistake neatly tucking away her 8th goal of the season to tie Marina Holan-Franko for the team scoring lead. United seemed the stronger of the two teams in the early play and increased their lead at the fifteen minute mark when midfielder Geri Donnelly hammered a 30 yard shot into the top corner of the net. Halcro, following a neat give and go with Jill Stewart added United’ s third by netting her eighth goal of the season to tie Lehnert and Holan-Franko. Three minutes later United suffered a set-back when the home team were awarded a penalty shot after the ball had inadvertently struck United defender in the hand.

It was a harsh decision indeed but Coquitlam’s Kristine jack tucked away the spot shot despite the valiant attempt by United keeper Stephanie Weston who got a hand on the ball but could not stop the ball carrying on into the net. Five minutes before the half Coquitlam grabbed another goal when Phoebe Trotman forced home an Amber Allen cross from close range.

In the past United, may have crumbled under the adversity but not anymore and they rebounded strongly in the second half and grabbed a deserved insurance marker midway through the frame when this time Stewart became the scorer and Halcro the provider as they linked up neatly once more to break through the home defence and leave Stewart with an easy tap in to ice the victory.

Our Ladies Under 21 team game also visited the Coquitlam area for a game on turf and ended up beating Port Moody Mayhem by a margin of 4-1. After coming off a two week lay off the Under 21 team was anxious to get back onto the pitch and they capped an impressive start to the game by scoring at the fifteen minute mark. United striker Lexi Iggulden rose majestically to head home a well struck corner kick from Nicole Stewart. Five minutes later United increased their lead when Stewart, this time scored herself with a twenty five yard free-kick that flew into the corner of the net. Then, a further five minutes later Port Moody reduced the deficit when a free-kick of their own rebounded off the cross-bar to one of their own players who forced the ball over the goal line from close range.

This gave the home side a big lift and both teams were prevented from adding further goals in the half by some fine saves from both goalkeepers. United seized the initiative, early in the second half, when leading goal-scorer Ally Pross pounced on a long clearance by keeper Kendra Klemke and then outpaced two defenders before slotting the ball past the advancing Port Moody keeper. United took control of the vast majority of the play and further increased their lead when Ally Pross scored her second of the game and fifteenth of the season by driving a powerful rising shot over the keeper’s head and into the roof of the net. The win restored United’s lead to six points over their nearest challenger on top of the League Standings.

Whilst there was only a limited number of games it would have been hard to imagine even with a full slate of games that anyone could have bettered the performance of Natalie Halcro, whose goal and two assists contributed significantly in the Ladies premier team big win against Coquitlam City. Natalie, is therefore selected for the second successive week, as this week’s Player of The Week for her outstanding offensive play which helped keep her team on top of the division. Each Weekly Winner will have their name entered into a random draw for the monthly prize of for Dinner for Two.