Two huge saves by Harrison Lee in a shootout helped the Alpha Aztecs to the banner in the BurWest high school boys’ soccer final.
Lee guessed right on two Burnaby Mountain shooters and Keenan Malloy then struck the game-winner to give the Aztecs a 1-0 victory over the previously undefeated Mountain Lions in the district final held at Burnaby Lake Sports Complex-West on Wednesday.
“I did what I had to do,” said Lee following the shootout win. “I stepped up.”
In fact, the whole Aztec side stepped up following a red card late in the second half of regulation time that left the North Burnaby school playing a man down the rest of the way and through two periods of overtime.
“The red card almost benefited us. We gave it our all,” added Lee.
In the opening period of extra time, Malloy sailed a free kick dangerously into the box.
Alpha looked even more dangerous in the second OT session following a nice set-up by Oliver Morrison-Harding to Marcello Caporale on a counter attack.
“We weren’t going to take that (red card),” said Morrison-Harding. “We went down a player, and we went out and raised our level of play.”
The Aztecs had two more free kicks go wanting in the period before Morrison-Harding unleashed a cannon of a shot on goal that Mountain keeper Lucas Kliman had to be sharp on as the referee’s whistle signalled the end of the game.
Alpha went on to win the penatly shootout by a 4-3 score, but it was Mountain that got the upper hand early.
Tomi Fagbongbe opened the scoring for the Lions, and then Kliman made a hand save on a shot by Matthew Beaulieu. The Lions capitalized again on their second shot to lead 2-0.
Cristiano Basso got Alpha back in it, calmly stroking a well-placed ball past Kliman.
Alpha made its next three shots from the spot, including goals by captain Marcelo Estay and Caporale, while Lee was busy outguessing the Lions’ shooters.
“Honestly, we wanted it more,” said Morrison-Harding, who had a solid game in the midfield for the Aztecs. “We wanted it way, way, way more. We’re younger, faster and stronger.”
Alpha certainly proved its speed, particularly in the first half, where the ’Tecs enjoyed much of the play.
Early on, Morrison-Harding was unlucky off a Basso free kick, miss-hitting the ball as it landed in the box.
Andre Ferrao put a Caporale free kick on goal and Morrison-Harding was unlucky again on the ensuing rebound at the corner of the goal.
The second half was more Mountain’s as the unscored-on regular season winner began to find its stride.
Fagbongbe had Mountain’s first good scoring chance with a shot on goal. The nifty striker also set up MinWoo Sung with a chance off an attack that went high and wide of the Aztec net.
Meanwhile Kliman looked unstoppable, palming away a solid chance by Alpha’s Tomas Silva late in regulation time.
Sohrab Sarhadi also had a nice run in the first half that set up a Lions’ free kick.
“(Mountain’s) a good team. They beat us 1-0 in the season. It was a lucky bounce,” said Alpha coach Antoni Salov, who has been with the team since they began in Grade 8.
“In overtime and down a man, we just took it to them. We said, ‘We’re going to take it,’ yeah.
“They were very hungry today. … I think they really want to go to the provincials. We’re hoping.”
On Tuesday, Nov. 4, Alpha will take on the North Shore playoff winner in the first game of AA regional qualifying for the upcoming provincial championships.
Mountain is the No. 1 BNW AAA seed despite Wednesday’s loss to Alpha. The Lions will face the North Shore champion on Monday, Nov. 3 at a time and place still to be determined.
Mountain advanced to the district final with a 2-0 victory over Byrne Creek. Alpha nipped AA No. 2 Cariboo Hill 2-1 to earn a berth into the banner final.
“Most of us are mostly Grade 11s,” added Morrison-Harding. “We wanted it more and honestly, that’s why we won. “This game was way harder (than the 1-0 loss to Mountain). It was way more intense.”
