A pair of goals 10 minutes apart in the first half was more than enough for the Kelowna Owls to remain atop the Okanagan senior AAA boys soccer standings this week.
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Adrian Delgado scored what would stand up as the winning goal 25 minutes into the game as the host Owls defeated the Salmon Arm Gold 2-0. Nic Banmen added the insurance marker later in a first half dominated by the Owls, who improved to 3-0 on the season.
The Golds’ best chance came late in the opening frame on a free kick from just outside the 18-yard box, but Owls keeper Liam Gallagher managed to get a glove on the ball and pushed it up and over the crossbar.
Salmon Arm (0-2) limited KSS to few opportunities in the second half, although the Owls did maintain the bulk of possession. Again, the Golds came close to getting on the scoresheet, but were denied by Owls’ netminder Joel Diemert on a couple of golden opportunities.
The Owls have fielded what head coach Brad Trites believes is the strongest in recent years, with nine players returning from the team that won an Okanagan championship last year. Of the 11 new players, five are in Grade 10 and have seen some time in the starting lineup.
KSS is tied with the Okanagan Mission Huskies with a 3-0 record, while both teams have a goal differential of 12 (KSS 13-1 and OKM 15-3). The two teams will meet each other in the final regular-season game on Nov. 1 at OKM.
The Huskies have a bye next week, while the Owls will play host to the third-place Mt. Boucherie Bears (1-1-1) on Wednesday beginning at 4 p.m. at KSS. The Rutland Voodoos (1-1) will take on Salmon Arm at Rutland Sportsfields (4 p.m.).
The top two teams in the seven-team regular season earn a bye to the semifinals while the playoff champions will represent the Okanagan at the B.C. School Sports AAA championship tournament in Vancouver Nov. 24-26.
Photo Gallery (65 Photos) on KelownaNow's Facebook page
Photo Gallery (65 Photos) on KelownaNow's Facebook page
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