Cliff Avenue United will join three other Burnaby teams in this weekend's Coastal Cup youth soccer finals in Richmond.
The under-18 Cliff girls' team got by Vancouver Island's Gorge FC 3-2 in a shootout in a late semifinal matchup in Victoria on Sunday to move on to the Coastal B Cup final against Surrey's CCB Elite at Minoru Park this Sunday.
Morag Desormeaux made two saves in the penalty-kick portion of the match and Isabel Sadowski popped the game-winner to highlight Cliff's comeback win.
Trailing 2-1 late in the game, Cliff's surprise cup run was in danger of ending but with virtually no time left on the clock, Danielle Tinoni scored the game-tying goal on a corner from Monica Gobbo to send the game into overtime.
Madisen Longo tied the game 1-1 in the first half.
"In the beginning of the year we weren't doing so great, but as soon as the cup came we haven't lost a game," said 22-year-old club coach Stephanie Pagliaro.
"It is nice to see them want everything at the same time. It something to be proud of. We are a real surprise cup team that was seeded in the bottom half."
Winning is no stranger to Pagliaro. The talented defender has been a winner with Cliff Avenue, the Burnaby Girls and Coquitlam in both Coastal and Provincial cups from u-14 to u-18. She went on to an all-conference career at Simon Fraser University.
"I've been lucky," said Pagliaro, who is taking a year away from soccer while she finishes up her studies. "I've always said No. 2 is the hardest. I hate losing."
Cliff Avenue takes on Central City at Minoru Park Sunday at 1 p.m.
Also taking part at the Coastal Cup weekend in Richmond are teams from the Burnaby Selects, South Burnaby Metro Club and local youth club New Westminster Barcelona in the u-15 girls' Coastal A Cup.
Barca breezed into cup play with a 7-1 victory over Central City Elite 97 in the opening round of 16 in April.
New West then posted a pair of shutouts to move into the divisional final, including a 1-0 semifinal win over Bays United.
Barcelona faces Coquitlam Metro-Ford Galaxy in the A cup final at Richmond High School on Saturday, beginning at 11: 30 a.m.
The Burnaby Selects are also scheduled for Saturday at Richmond High in the boys' u-13 final against Richmond United, beginning at 3: 30 p.m.
The South Burnaby Vipers are in the u-15 boys' Coastal B Cup final against Central City Elite. Game time is Saturday at 3: 15 p.m. at Minoru Park Field 2.
