The Quesnel Denny’s Strikers hosted the year end roundup for the Cariboo Soccer League with some food and of course some soccer.
With the soccer pitches surrounded by cheering family and friends, six Strikers teams hit the pitch on Sunday and three of them came away with top honours.
The U12 boys, coached by Paulo Ferreria took top spot, despite being relatively new to the sport at the start of the season.
“We were very happy to see the boys pull together for this win,” Ferreria said on behalf of team manager Renee McCarthy.
The U15 Strikers girls team also collected a first place finish, ahead of Williams Lake and 100 Mile House in third.
Coached by Iain Brown, the U15 girls started the day with a 2-1 win in the morning and followed with another 2-1 in the afternoon to hold on to first place.
The U13 boys, coached by Neil MacKay, also finished in top spot, ahead of Williams Lake and 100 Mile House in second and third, respectively.
The U12 Strikers girls team pulled together in their bronze medal match to outscore Williams Lake 4-2 to secure the third place finish.
“It was our best match yet,” coach Gilbert Schotel said.
The U12 girls were led by Lauren Osip who scored three times and Haely Pike added a single.
Keepers, Rachel Schotel and Emily MacKay, were on top of their game, Schotel added.
U12 girls teams from Williams Lake finished first and second. 100 Mile House took fourth.
The U14 Strikers girls team, despite being down two players as a result of injury and illness, forced 100 Mile House to penalty kicks to determine the winner of the bronze-medal match.
The U14 girls played 100 Mile House to a 5-5 tie after regulation and a 20-minute overtime period solved nothing, to send the teams to penalty kicks.
Two teams from Williams Lake finished first and second and 100 Mile House took third place.
The Strikers U16 boys team finished third on the day.
Despite having several 14 and 15-year-old players, the U16 Strikers kept their older opponents within two goals, losing 3-1 and 5-2.
The Strikers now sharpen their cleats for tournaments in Kelowna and Penticton and then host their Gold Pan Tournament during Billy Barker Days.