A hat trick by Justin Dhaliwal ensured the Cariboo Hill Chargers their first provincial soccer championship appearance in a decade.
The Chargers, unlucky 1-0 losers to Windsor in the BNW/ North Shore zone playdowns on Monday, were full value for a 4-1 win over Seycove for the second zone berth into the provincials at Burnaby Lake Sports Complex-West on Wednesday.
Dhaliwal opened the scoring midway through the first half on a clinical finish off a great through ball from Reza Rahiem.
The Grade 11 high performance league forward for Mountain United also scored a pair of second-half goals to put the game away.
"I was pumped. I had a good feeling we were going to win, too," said Dhaliwal after the game.
Dhaliwal made the score 3-1 on a second breakaway ball from Rahiem, slotting his own rebound into the far corner of the goal.
Dhaliwal also used his speed to turn a Bruce Duncan pass into a score, outracing the Seycove keeper to a ball before controlling the loose ball into the back of the net.
David Genet tallied Cariboo's game-winning marker in the 20th minute of the first half, one-timing a hard Dhaliwal rebound that was cleared off the line back into the goal.
Seycove scored its only goal on Charger goalie Juggy Dosanjh on a first-half penalty shot, sandwiched between Cariboo Hill's two counters.
"These boys, they are amazing," said a happy Joseph Resendes, the team's second-year volunteer coach. "We got over Monday and we got over the hump, I think. We've been in so many games and got into the finals and lost. It was great to get that monkey off our backs."
Resendes, who has cerebral palsy, was helped out by Second Street Community School teacher Carlo Bolognese.
"I have the soccer passion and Carlo has the organization," Resendes said.
"Sometimes I think the kids drive off my passion and enthusiasm, at least I hope they do. - But sometimes I tend to ramble and then Carlo can be quite concise and to the point."
Resendes played for Canada's soccer team in the first Cerebral Palsy International World Games in 2005, but was a final cut for this year's national team.
"What I try to stress is I was that guy on the bench. - I've been there. One thing I've done is if you stick with something and keep working and today we used all our subs. That's the way I want it."
The B.C. AA high school provincials will be held at Burnaby Lake Sports Complex-West from Nov. 21 to 23.
In the AAA zone playdowns, Burnaby South striker Matthew Shannik scored three goals in a 3-0 win over West Vancouver.
Jordan Lasher, who missed Monday's loss to Argyle, helped settle down the South back end.
Adam Helewka stepped in to post the shutout in goal.
"We're on our way," said South coach Rob Puni.
The AAA provincial championships follow the AA's at Burnaby Lake-West and run from Nov. 24 to 26.
