SPORTS FLASHBACK OCT 2002: Shevchenko Sabres win soccer title

There are celebrations this week at Vita’s Shevchenko School. The Shevchenko Sabres claimed the Provincial Rural High School Boys’ 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 season this fall, compiling a 3-2-3 record in league play, finishing in sixth place overall.

But it was in the zone play-offs the Sabres found their mark. In the quarter-finals, 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 had a decided advantage with 950 students from 9-12 to select a soccer team from.

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 overtime 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 Bondivalli.

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, 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 defeated the SRSS Sabres from Steinbach 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 the Provincial Rural High School Athlete of the Week in leading the Sabres to the provincial title.