The Ladner Vipers will end their dream season in Kelowna this summer.
The U15 Gold girls soccer team earned a trip to the Okanagan city after an impressive 4-1 victory over the Port Coquitlam Storm in Coastal "B" Cup semi-final play Sunday.
The victory not only sends the Vipers to the championship game, set for the May 5-6 weekend in Richmond, it also secures a spot in the Provincial Cup, slated for July in the Okanagan.
"Everyone is really, really excited," said Vipers coach Pete Findlay who has worked with Dirk Schwuchow to guide the this group since it started at the rep level. "The girls deserve it. Straight off the whistle, they followed on from their extra time performance last weekend."
Coming off a dramatic quarter-final overtime win against Richmond, which saw Ladner explode for three goals in extra time, the locals needed only five minutes to establish the lead on a goal by Lesley Antic.
She added another before halftime, forcing PoCo to open up its game plan. Any hopes of a comeback for the hosts was put to an end on a 30-yard strike by Laura Findlay.
Antic then completed her memorable afternoon on a spectacular run from near centre midfield that produced her hat trick goal.
The Vipers will now meet the Coquitlam Metro Ford Black Ice in the cup final, in a battle of the top two teams in Coastal Girls Soccer League Gold 1 league play.
"In cup (play), the cream has risen to the top," added Findlay. "We always thought it would be good to have a final game against (them)."
Meanwhile, the U14 Tsawwassen Blues were hoping to join the Vipers in Richmond but just came up short in their bid to reach the championship game, falling 2-1 on the road to the Powell River Cobras.
The Blues remain in position to qualify for the Provincial Cup since the Cobras are in the final as the Vancouver Island/Sunshine Coast representative. The girls will play off against the other semi-final loser - Royal City Salsa - to determine the last spot.
In U16 boys "A" cup action, the Delta Selects will also be looking to earn a "back door" provincial berth after a heartbreaking 1-0 loss to Richmond United in their semi-final game.
The Tsawwassen based team played the league champions to a standstill through regulation and overtime. It took until the eighth round of penalty kicks before United finally prevailed.
The Selects will play Vancouver FC for third place with a trip to Kamloops on the line.
