The Swift Current D-Stars women’s soccer team hit their stride just in time to capture the Saskatchewan Soccer Association’s division three provincial championship on home turf Sunday with a 4-2 win over Yorkton.
The D-Stars erased an early 1-0 deficit with four consecutive goals, including a pair from Casandra Evans, to capture the provincial title. Mikaela Mamer and Lindsay Siemens added singles for the D-Stars who got shut-down defensive performances from their entire lineup of fullbacks.
A pair of local teams opened the tournament in an all Swift Current grudge match after playing in numerous exhibition games against one another to prepare for the tournament.
On Friday evening it was the D-Stars who emerged victorious with a 5-2 win despite an outstanding goalkeeping performance from Karla Polsfut.
Tessa Andres, Kimbi Wiebe, Lindsay Siemens, Mikaela Mamer, and Casandra Evans all scored for the D-Stars, while Nicole Brown and Jenna King replied for SCSB.
Saturday afternoon SCSB were blanked 10-0 by Yorkton as they finished third in the three-team round robin.
Saturday evening the D-Stars and Yorkton met in a first-place showdown with a bye into the championship final at stake.
Yorkton opened the scoring but the D-Stars replied when Kimbi Wiebe converted a Meagan Pavlovic corner kick with only seconds left in the first half.
The D-Stars took an early 2-1 lead in the second half when Siemens hit the scoresheet, but Yorkton replied minutes later for a 2-2 final.
The draw sent Yorkton through to the final based on goal differential as the D-Stars were forced to Sunday morning’s semi-final.
Sunday morning Lindsay Siemens exploded for four goals as the D-Stars cruised to a 9-1 win. Evans followed closely with three goals, while Jill Kennedy and Wiebe added singles to eliminate SCSB who got a single goal from Brown.
The D-Stars were comprised of 17 players ages 15-20, all products of the Swift Current Foresters United Soccer Club, and were coached by Dale Perry, Steven Mah, and Michelle Wiebe.
"It was a treat to be involved with a team with such an abundance of talent, right through the lineup," said head coach Dale Perry.
