Winning championships has become almost routine for one talented Ladner family.
Back in March, Owen Venier served as an assistant captain as the South Delta A1 Storm repeated as B.C. Hockey’s U18 Tier 2 provincial champions on home ice.
Over the Canada Day weekend in July, his sister Leah helped the U14 Delta Selects cap another dominant season with their second straight Provincial “A” Cup soccer championship in South Surrey.
It was then his other sister’s turn on the turf at B.C. Place Stadium last weekend.
That’s where Sidney Venier backstopped the Whitecaps FC Girls Elite team to the League1 title with a 3-1 victory over Unity FC.
It’s been about 18 months since the South Delta United Soccer Club product earned a spot in the prestigious all-expenses paid program and she certainly is making the most of the opportunity.
Making her first start, Sidney produced several key saves in the early going to propel her team to victory.
After an early stop inside the first five minutes, she would later be called upon again.
Unity’s Alanna Bekkering won the ball in the box and unleashed a venomous shot that rattled off Sidney’s post before she got a hand to it to keep it out. Sophie Crowther would test her again just a few minutes later, placing a shot straight down the middle.
Unity eventually opened the scoring before the Whitecaps went to work. They equalized before halftime and added the game winner in the 52nd minute. Insurance came on a penalty kick six minutes before full-time.
The post season continues with this weekend’s second annual League1 Canada Inter-Provincial Championship in Langley.
Meanwhile, North Delta’s Patrick Izett helped the Whitecaps Boys Academy Team complete the sweep by edging the Victoria Highlanders in penalty kicks to win the League1 men’s championship.
The Seaquam graduate re-joined the Whitecaps after being a member of Thompson Rivers University U Sport national champions team.
