It took seven years. But, if anything, the lengthy time frame without a title made victory even sweeter when the P.G. Masters soccer team finally did boot to a championship.
At the recent Palm Desert Senior Games in the California community, the Masters were the class of the grass in the International Club Invitational. In the final of the 50-and-over tournament, they went to a shootout with Beddington United of Calgary and pulled out a 2-1 win.
"This was our seventh year in the tournament and third year in a row we've been in the final," said P.G. Masters goalkeeper Terry Carter. "The guys played really well. I was quite impressed. I think that's the best I've seen them play since we've been going down there."
In the shootout, Prince George was literally unstoppable. The Masters got goals from Mark Yawney, Mick Burrows -- on an absolute rocket to the top left corner -- and Tony Ciolfitto. Meanwhile, two of the Calgary kickers missed the net altogether and the other was stymied by Carter.
In regulation time, Calgary took a 1-0 lead in the second half but the Masters struck back right away, with Burrows doing the finishing.
To start the tournament, the Masters beat the Los Angeles Salamanders 1-0. Next, they were matched against the North American Allsorts and won 3-0.
Other Prince George players on the team were Les Lax and Tim Sutton. George Kos, also a P.G. resident, served as coach. The squad included players from Williams Lake and Kamloops.
At the conclusion of the International Club Invitational, Carter played in an over-70 division and his randomly-assembled team grabbed gold in the group.
In one last event, one in which players were divided up based on their country of origin, Carter's Senior Brits were handed silver medals after a loss to the U.S. in the final.
In total, Carter tended goal in seven games and posted four shutouts.
"It's a fun tournament," he said. "You're playing for a medal, nothing else. There's no money involved or glory -- it's just for fun."
