SPORTS FLASHBACK 2002: Vita soccer team beats the odds

There are celebrations this week at Vita’s Shevchenko School as the Sabres claimed the Provincial Rural High School Boys’ Provincial Soccer Championship last weekend at St Laurent.

Shevchenko lost the provincial final to Zone 4 rival Garden Valley of Winkler last fall in Winkler, and went through a so-so regular season this year, compiling a 3-2-3 (W/L/D) record in league play, finishing in sixth place overall.

It was in the zone playoffs the Sabres found their mark. In the quarterfinals, Shevchenko got by Altona 1-0, as Kris Driedger scored the winner in overtime. This set the stage for the semi-final match-up against the defending champions and heavily favored squad from Winkler. With only 125 students from grades 9-12 at Shevchenko, Garden Valley has a decided advantage with 950 students.

Undaunted, Shevchenko battled the powerful Zodiacs from Winkler to a 1-1 draw after regulation, with Tim Thiessen scoring for the Sabres. Fifteen minutes of extra time didn’t settle it and the game was decided on penalty kicks, as Shevchenko outscored Garden Valley 3-2. Penalty kick goal scorers for Vita were Brad Waldner, Jeff Penner and Italian exchange student Alessandro Bondavalli.

The following day, the Sabres travelled to Portage, where they subsequently lost 3-0 in the zone final. But their victory over Winkler garnered Shevchenko a wildcard berth in the provincial championships, while at the same time denied the defending champions from Winkler a wildcard spot.

Vita opened the provincial tournament by defeating third-ranked Stonewall 4-3 on penalty kicks. Ryan Kiansky was in goal for the scoreless regulation. Scott Smook, who was named the MVP of the provincial championships, was in goal for the penalty kicks. Alessandro Bondavalli, Brad Waldner, Scott Smook and Jeff Penner were the penalty kick goal scorers.

In the semi-finals, Shevchenko blanked Hamiota 2-0 on another shutout by Ryan Kiansky and goals by Brad Waldner and Jeff Penner.

Ironically, this pitted Shevchenko against the other wildcard team, from Minnedosa, in the championship final. Minnedosa had defeated the Steinbach Regional Secondary School Sabres 2-1 in their opening game. Steinbach would go on to win the consolation final.

The final game again had to be settled in overtime, as the Shevchenko Sabres eventually beat Minnedosa 4-3 on penalty kicks to claim the provincial title. Alessandro Bondavalli, Scott Smook, Taurean Wiebe and Jeff Penner had the Shevchenko penalty kick goals. Bondavalli also scored the regulation time goal.

In addition to Scott Smook being named the tournament MVP, named to the all-star team from Shevchenko were Taurean Wiebe, Evan Persowich, Jeff Penner and Ryan Kiansky.

Also named all-stars were Dorian Friesen and Kevin Kalyta of Steinbach. Kalyta led the tournament in scoring, with six goals.

Smook was also named this week the Provincial Rural High School Athlete of the Week in leading the Sabres to the provincial title.