August 2nd, 2022 - Vancouver / Burnaby BC
League1 BC Season Concludes with 2 Dramatic Finals
Fantastic day at Swangard stadium brings great display of young talent.
It was a perfect sun-drenched day in Burnaby for the inaugural League1 BC Finals presented by HALL, featuring the regular season champions hosting the runners up in one final game.
Point Grey’s Varsity FC was top of the class in both divisions after dominant regular seasons that saw both teams recognized for finishing first. The club also received the revived “Juan de Fuca Plate”, which was founded in 2012, and is now presented to the League1 BC Club with the most combined points between women and men.
In the Women’s Final, an incredible start for Varsity saw Jenna Baxter score inside the first minute as she picked the far corner post and in. But the young Whitecaps women showed great character and fightback, surviving a huge scare in the 77th minute when a wide-open Vanessa Tome hit the post with the goal yawning. Then Iba Oching smashed home an 84th minute volley direct from a corner, and the game was tied with penalties looming. But in the 89th minute, Jeneva Hernandez-Grey sealed the contest by bending an absolutely perfect strike into the top corner, as the Whitecaps became the first ever team to claim Chantelle Trainor-Matties’ beautifully designed cedar trophy.
Despite the loss in the final match, Varsity FC will now turn its attention to the first ever Women’s Inter Provincial Championship August 12th to 14th in Laval Quebec.
TSS Rovers battled Varsity FC in the Men’s Final, and it was the usual Swangard inhabitants which took the early lead, thanks to a converted penalty by Kyle Jones in minute 14. It took until the 56th minute for Varsity to equalize, when Victory Shumbusho glanced a header into the far corner from a Thomas Gardner’s corner kick. The game ended 1-1 at full time, which meant the first ever men’s final would be decided on kicks from the penalty mark.
The shooters were perfect until the final Varsity attempt in round 5 when Rovers goalkeeper Justyn Sandhu guessed right to deny Shumbusho, leading to scenes of pandemonium as the supporter-owned Rovers were able to celebrate with the Swangardians on their usual home turf.
League1 BC General Manager Sian Bagshawe was thrilled with the first ever Finals event:
“The games couldn’t have been any better…which is why we need this level of play to give players a platform where they can be seen. From the support of the 1627 fans who attended one or both games, to our partners, volunteers, and everyone who supported the league throughout the season…we’re very grateful, and believe we’ve established an annual BC Day long weekend tradition that will keep growing year over year.”
League1 BC would like to acknowledge and thank its year one partners; Hall Constructors, HomeTeam Live, FTF Canada, MSA Sports, Still Creek Communications, and League1 Canada for their support in this inaugural season.
Safe Sport Statement
BC Soccer believes that everyone involved in soccer has the right to participate in safe and inclusive environments free of abuse, harassment, discrimination, and to enjoy the sport at whatever level or capacity they participate in. The welfare of everyone involved in soccer is the foremost consideration and in particular, the protection of children in the sport is the responsibility of everyone involved.
About League1 BC
League1 BC is an adult open age Pro-Am Soccer League operated by BC Soccer. Established in 2021, the league is intended to bridge the gap between youth and professional soccer, targeting the “Training to Compete” stage within Long-term Player Development (LTPD). The League will engage communities across British Columbia providing standard-based competition and training environments for female and male players, coaches, and match officials. League1 BC serves as a key platform of development into further opportunities within the game.
