The annual Sunbreaker soccer tournament in Camrose saw a few of the Ponoka minor soccer teams in action last Saturday and Sunday, May 2 and 3 with limited success but hopes for a good season.
Ponoka’s U14 girls team were set up with two Camrose teams in consecutive games but there was no win for the visiting girls and the host teams came out on top in both matches.
U12 girls lost their game to Stettler and could not advance.
Last year’s tournament champions U16 boys team had a good start to the tournament overpowering Rocky Mountain House 5-0 in what appeared to be an easy game for the Ponoka boys.
In their second game, they defeated Stettler 3-0 in a game, which was again mostly dominated by the Storm in both offense and defense.
In the third game, the boys played against Lacombe, one of the strongest contenders for the league title again this year.
Storm held tight in the first half thwarting wave after wave of attacks by Lacombe boys, who used the advantage of their size as well as their superb ball control and passing skills.
Close to the midway through second half, Lacombe boys struck with an overhead shot taking a 1-0 lead.
Storm tried desperately to respond with an equalizer and about two minutes from time, Ponoka boys found the back of the Lacombe net in a counter attack, but the goal was disallowed by the referee who ruled it to be offside.
With the loss, Ponoka boys got the silver medal and Lacombe were crowned champions.