A hard-working Saanich senior boys soccer team is celebrating after scoring an extra-time win to clinch the division title.
Dubbed “amazing” by coach Dom Butcher, the Spectrum Secondary team hoisted the Colonist Shield after defeating Sooke's Edward Milne Secondary 4-3.
“We haven’t won this in 15 years,” said Butcher, who's been around eight years and seen the team in the Division 2 final three times.
A hat trick by Tom Jujihara, including a key penalty in extra time, and a goal by J'Elijah Helman secured victory for the Thunder.
“We were down 3-1 early in the second half and the boys rallied,” Butcher said. “They worked their socks off to get back in the game. Fortunately, in extra time we found the solution.”
A last-second 30-yard free-kick from Jujihara forced extra time. In the extra period, Brody Armstrong was brought down in the box to allow Jujihara to secure the victory for the Thunder.
Winning the Lower Island final caps a season that saw the team go undefeated in pool play this season. While they didn’t qualify for the Island championship, Butcher’s proud of the win.
Butcher is pleased for the graduating players, the team as a whole and the school community.
“They showed their quality in the final there by coming back.”
