After regulation time and a pair of five-minute extra sessions, the College Heights Cougars and Duchess Park Condors were no closer to determining a winner.
In penalty kicks, the Cougars finally prevailed. With the win -- 3-2 on the scoresheet -- they claimed the lone north central berth in the girls double-A high school provincial soccer championship.
The Cougars and Condors met in Monday's final of the zone tournament, played in Williams Lake. A 2-2 tie was broken when College Heights outscored Duchess 4-2 in penalties.
"It was a great game for both teams," said Cougars coach Lyn Hall. "We were up 1-0, they tied it. We were up 2-1, and they tied it with 30 seconds to go in the game. It was pretty hectic.
"You don't expect high school soccer, at times, to be as technical and as good as this was."
In regulation time, Sydney Hall and Sarah Appleby connected for the Cougars, only to have Emily Kwitkoski and Sydney Wilson respond for the Condors.
In the shootout that followed, Sydney Hall, Kiana Wilkinson, Jenn Tazelaar and Appleby were the successful College Heights kickers. The Condors, meanwhile, got their goals from Kwitkoski and Wilson.
In the two-day tournament, the Cougars compiled a 4-0 record. They beat Columneetza of Williams Lake 2-0, edged Williams Lake secondary 1-0 and, in the playoff semifinals, defeated Nechako Valley of Vanderhoof 5-0.
In the post-tournament awards ceremony, Sydney Hall was picked as most valuable player. Twin sister Jordan Hall was named top goaltender and Kwitkoski was recognized as the top goal scorer.
For the Cougars and Condors, the zone games were their first outdoor battles of the season. Because of the unusually frigid spring, all league games were played indoors at the Northern Sport Centre fieldhouse. The Cougars completed their regular schedule with a mark of 5-1-1.
Next up, provincials, which will be held June 2-4 in Burnaby.
"It will be tough," coach Hall said. "It's the best high school soccer in the province and of course you've got a lot of private schools that [have soccer] as their primary sport. It will be difficult, but to win zones is a huge accomplishment for the team. Anytime you can get to provincials is a real accomplishment."
