Team British Columbia vs. Team Nova Scotia
Final Score: 2-2 (NS wins on penalties 4-3)

Game Summary

For the third time in the 2017 Canada Summer Games, Team BC’s soccer contingent went to a penalty shootout and came out on the wrong end – this time with the men’s side falling to Nova Scotia 4-3. The loss marks the end of a disappointing tournament for the men finishing in eighth place.

The first half belonged to the maritime squad who attacked BC from the start. Nova Scotia nearly scored six minutes in when they rang a shot off the bar, deflected just high enough by BC keeper Mitch Whittla (Victoria). The match did not remain scoreless for long however as Nova Scotia took a 1-0 lead in the 20th minute capitalizing on a BC turnover in their own end of the field. Then, seven minutes later, a defensive breakdown led to Nova Scotia doubling their goal total when with greater numbers they wired a ball past Whittla.

A couple of key halftime substitutions sparked the BC offense though as the team came out flying. After dominating the possession, BC was rewarded when Andrew Peat (Port Coquitlam) came into the match and earned a penalty, cutting Nova Scotia’s lead in half. Then about 15 minutes later, Peat scored his second, cleaning up a rebound off a fabulous free kick from captain Sam McDonald (Kelowna). BC continued to press for the winner in the closing minutes which included an enormous stop by the Nova Scotia keeper off a Devin O’Hea (North Vancouver) half-volley from the top of the box. In added time, with seconds remaining, BC thought they had the goal, just to have it called back on an offside.

In the ensuing shootout, Nova Scotia managed to hit their first four efforts from the spot which was enough to secure victory after misses from Jora Saran (Surrey) and Devin O’Hea. Last week, BC’s women’s team was also knocked out of their tournament by Nova Scotia on a penalty shootout and finished in fifth place.

Statistics
Goals
• Andrew Peat, #7 (47’, 61’)

Cautions
• Burhan Waisy, #15 (78’)