The Burnaby South Rebels earned themselves a spot in the B.C. high school senior girls' provincial soccer championships with a banner win over New Westminster.
South defeated the New West Hyacks 2-0 at Burnaby Lake Sports Complex-West in the championship final, earning the No. 1 BurWest district berth in the zone playdowns with North Shore next week.
The Rebels will take on upcoming provincial hosts Argyle in the zone final at Lillooet Park on Monday. Kickoff is scheduled for 3 p.m. New Westminster will face North Shore No. 2 at Ambleside-East, also Monday.
With Argyle earning an automatic berth to the B.C.s, South has already claimed one of the two zone berths into the provincials.
In the BNW banner final, South took an early 1-0 lead over New West on a goal from inside the 18yard box by Amie Morrison that beat the Hyack keeper low to the far post in the opening minute of play.
Danielle Naherniak iced the win for South early after the restart, scoring on a high shot that tumbled into the goal off the keeper's fingers.
Moments earlier, German international student Anna Bruckmeir had her hard shot on goal clang off the New West goal post.
From then on, it was up to the Rebels' junior goalkeeper Dayle Wilnechenko to salvage the shutout as New Westminster gained an advantage in possession and opportunities.
Hyacks' forward Navneet Mahal had the best chance to score, firing two shots on goal from close range following a breakaway on goal.
Wilnechenko got in front of both, including the ensuiing rebound, while also palming a later shot on goal by Stephanie Cruickshank safely over the crossbar.
"I like the pressure. I'm excited to play the next game," said Wilnechenko.
