THE FREE PRESS SPORTS SEPTEMBER 25, 1997 24 years experience fitting & sharpening Risport Doa Jacks BIKE SHOP LTD. 2/eur (S\)cle cAnalyat 1733 Nicholson Street &-] 563-4828 H) QB n Financing Available O.A.C John KML Provides servicing of office products IVIvIL OFFICE TECHNOLOGY UNIT *7. ^839FIRST AVE *PH =62-3626-FAX 562 5T73 Croatians end NCSSL drought Prince George Croatia waited five years to sip from the Cariboo Cup, but they more than made up for lost time.on Saturday afternoon. The celebratory beverages were flowing freely in the Croatia locker room after their 1-0 shootout win over Ques-nel’s Begbies Pub in the North Cariboo Senior Soccer League’s Cariboo Division championship game. In between sips, the players sang songs from the old country. The locker room was hot and steamy. It was like a valve had been turned and the tension that boiled up inside the heavily-favoured locals was allowed to escape with a sweaty hiss. “The game wasn’t so beautiful to watch because we had everything to lose and we were uptight,” says Croatia coach Nick Vukovic. “That tightness took away our freedom to play soccer.” But it didn’t take away their ability to finish from the penalty spot. All five Croatia shooters found the back of the net. Tom Brkich, Dennis Rukavina, Frank Kovasevic, Tien Mueller and Jon Lafontaine, the team’s youngest player, beat Quesnel keeper Peter Kozic. Kevin Sangha, Jim Nichols, Kewal Bagri and Rod Terry scored for Quesnel in the shootout while Paulo Serefini was the only player to miss from the spot as a diving Ivan Brkich turned the Quesnel striker’s shot outside the left post. Tien Mueller, right, and his P.G. Croatia teammates celebrate Jon LaFontalne’s winning goal In the ShOOtOUt. Chris Smnctt/Free Press “I always knew we were going to win, even if it went into sudden death,” says Vukovic. “We have a good core of players, I had the confidence to go with anyone and 1 knew they would score.” Vukovic’s confidence should have been shaken by his team’s inability to score during the 90 minutes of regulation time soccer and the 20-minutes of extra time. Croatia dominated the game for most of the 110 minutes, but looked like they wasted their offence against team. Nationality, colour, race, it doesn’t matter what it is. When you put on a Croatian uniform you are with us. It’s a beautiful thing. I am proud to call myself Croatian.” Quesnel skipper and sweeper Kevin Sangha says the best team won on Saturday afternoon. Two years ago it was Sangha’s team that hoisted the Cup after dispatching Croatia in a penalty kick shootout so he wasn’t too upset when the tables were turned. “They’ve got a great team,” he says. “They proved it all around this year. Our guys put up a good fight for what we had to offer.” Gilbert Forestry had no problem scoring goals in the Rec Division final, thanks to Leo O’Connell. O’Connell had all three of Gilbert’s goals as they won their first ever playoff title with a 3-1 victory over Croatia II. EPILEPSY CANADA 1 800 860-5499 Stop waiting and start watching. c Honda North/Citizen the week before when they scored seven times. “Last Sunday we couldn’t miss and this weekend we couldn’t score,” says Vukovic. But despite his team’s lack of punch up front, Vukovic couldn’t stop smiling. “We are satisfied, we are happy,” he says. “We expected to win. We knew from the beginning we were the team to beat. “This feels great. We have such cohesion on the The NEW College of Taxes & extra Caledo ^ Cariboo Telcom ^962-7006 or 1-800-277-8876 3835 W. Austin Rd Greater Prince George Minor Hockey COACHING CLINICS INITIATION PROGRAM Sept. 27 & 28 8 am - 4 pm Room 1 -316 at CNC COACH LEVEL Sept. 27 & 28 8 am - 4 pm Room 1 -317 at CNC Please call the Minor Hockey office at 563-0303, to let us know that you are interested so we have some idea as to the number of people to expect. There is no charge for anyone coaching with G.P.G.M.I.I.A. INTERMEDIATE LEVEL: There will also be an Intermediate Level Coaches Clinic to be held in Quesnel September 12 from 7 am -10:30 pm, 13 and 14 from 8 am - 4 pm You must contact the Minor Hockey office to preregister for this clinic. Any clinic fees will be reimbursed for those individuals who coach for the Greater Prince George Minor Hockey Association. WEM (Bridal Showcase & fashion Show f- Special (Displays ‘Editing Qiftsfor Every ‘Bride l\(umerous (Door prizes Coast Inn of IThe 9{orth October 5th at 12:30 pm Coast Inn of the North Call 562-3115 for your FREE invitation To reserve your booth call Laurie at 562-3115 THE PRINCE CEORCE LCOME AGON Since 1930 " r si THE PR FREE PRESSdL