The following article was published in the Peak in late July, 1999:
Seven kickers strike gold
Gold glittered on seven Powell River soccer players when their team secured the mother lode in the BC Soccer Summer Games.
The under 14 girls played for the winning Vancouver Island Selects. The athletes shone during the tournament that was held in place of the BC Summer Games, which runs in even numbered years starting this year. Vancouver Island's representative team went undefeated with a five win no loss record to win the gold medal against top soccer players from Victoria, Vancouver, Burnaby, Richmond, North Vancouver and the Fraser Valley.
Alex Lavertu, Justine Thom, Kaylee Pilkington, Kara Hobson, Jennifer Bilesky, Krista Behaut and Carly Carson were members of the victorious team, coached by Bruce Hobson and George Behaut with Janet Pilkington managing. This team first met and had tryouts only six weeks earlier, so their accomplishments were even more amazing playing against top level players from the Lower Mainland.
Lavertu and Hobson each scored once in a 4-0 gold medal game win.
Four other Powell River girls, Lorena Gatt, Kelyn Gahan, Alix Southall and Katelin Bowes, played for the Lower Vancouver Island selects and captured fifth overall.
Nikki Walker and Laurel Loxam played for the Upper Vancouver Island squad with players from Port Alberni, Port McNeill, Denman Island, Courtenay and Comox that finished sixth.
Join the Peak's email list for the top headlines right in your inbox Monday to Friday.