Bravehearts find a new hero in goal

DARLINGTON -- Heading into the Trenton, the odds were stacked against the Darlington Bravehearts U16 boys team.

They had just returned from a successful nine-day tour of Scotland, and entered the 12th annual Cameron Memorial Tournament minus goaltender Robert Matheson, who had stayed behind for an extra week of vacation in Scotland.

Just two days before heading to Trenton, the Bravehearts had yet to find a replacement goaltender.

But that was when Nicholas Burnie entered the picture.

Two years younger, Burnie, who plays for the U14 Darlington Fusion, was the tournament hero as the Bravehearts defeated the Quinte West Wolverines 3-2 in penalty kicks to win the tournament championship.

Braveheart players mobbed Burnie, who made four saves on six shots in the penalty kick phase, following the final Wolverine miss, hoisting their new hero onto their shoulders and carrying him off the field.

Franco Demilto, Wei Wei Yan and Joe Price -- with the winner -- scored the penalty kicks for Darlington.

Earlier, Marco Brusco forced the championship game into extra time, scoring on a penalty kick awarded when Kaine Elliott was hauled down inside the 18-yard box. Regulation and overtime ended in a 1-1 tie.

In round robin play, the Bravehearts defeated Whitby Iroquois Lions 2-0 with Tyler Leggo accounting for both goals, lost to Pegasus Azzurri 1-0, tied Quinte West 0-0 and spanked Pickering FC 5-1. Leggo had another pair of goals in that one, with a goal each going to Demilto, Yan and Price. Burnie, in what was a preview of good things to come, stopped a penalty kick against Pickering while the game was still in doubt.

The Darlington defence of Brad Holmes, Joshua McGee, Talon Montague and Price was a fearless foursome in front of Burnie throughout the tournament as the Bravehearts surrendered only three goals in five games.

The team's midfielders, Patrick Brusco, Elliott, Curtis Sansom and Richard Wilson, were tireless in their efforts, joining the attack and helping out the defence, while strikers Marco Brusco, Demilto, Leggo and Yan were a constant threat to opposing goalkeepers.

Darlington Devils U9 girls defend home turf

DARLINGTON -- After making it to the semifinals in both the West Niagara and Whitby Iroquois Soccer Tournaments, the Darlington Devils U9 Girls team defended their home turf in Darlington to win the U9 girls Championship recently.

In their opening round robin games they beat Whitby 5-0; Oshawa Turul 2-0 and Quinte 7-0.

In the semifinals they knocked off another undefeated team, the Ajax Turboz 4-0 to advance to the finals where they faced the Quinte team again.

In the finals the Devils scored early to put Quinte on their heels and never looked back as they went on to an 8-0 win.

Tremendous goal support was supplied by strikers, Jillian Caughey, Madison Runge, Avery Stover, Madison Haigh and Emma Pye. Devils midfielders Brooklyn Bastarache and Araya Migwans-Bryan dominated the middle third to perfection. The stellar defensive abilities of Nadia Lubenko, Katie Ryan and Brianna. Forrest defended all offensive challenges put forth by all opposing strikers.

In goal the thunderous boots of goalkeeper Celina Hunt kept the opposing team and all spectators in awe.

The Devils are sponsored by Gary Haigh Carpentry, Michael Trevett - State Farm Insurance, Christopher R. Andrew, C.A., Dr. Coralee Mueller, Courtice Funeral Chapel and Dr. T. Gill, Dentistry and are coached by manager Tracy Caughey, assistant coaches Kevin Forrest and Lynn Ryan.

Darlington Fusion win a pair

DARLINGTON -- At the Whitby Iroquois Soccer Club tournament the Darlington Fusion U14 Boys soccer team won it all, becoming champions by defeating the home team from Whitby by a score of 4-2.

It took a true team effort to win the tournament as Darlington made it to the final by winning, tying, and losing a game in the opening round. Although the final started as a one-sided game for Darlington, it soon turned into an end to end exciting contest that saw a penalty shot scored and crossbars hit.

At the Darlington Soccer Club Invitational Tournament, the team won their second tournament of the year, going undefeated throughout.

First round game results included a 1-0 win against Guelph, a 0-0 tie versus Oshawa Kicks, and a second tie against Sarnia, 1-1. Without a loss, the team advanced to the final against a well-matched Oshawa team. With tensions rising, the teams went to a penalty shootout with Darlington taking the cup. This marked the second consecutive year that Darlington Fusion won their age group championship at the Darlington Tournament.

In both tournaments a true team effort was given by all: Peter Alward, Joshua Armstrong, Nicholas Burnie, Thomas Burns, David Gheorghita, Cameron Gilmore, William Grossett, Brandon Herd, Brandon Horta, Spencer Hunt, Kyle Krasnowski, Austin Melville, Jeremy Reader, Gregory Robinson, Ben Welds and Kyle Willoughby.

The team is sponsored by Pizza Pizza, North American Steel, Tudor Castle Contracting, Data Yak, Interior Woodcraft Designs, and Bobby C's.