With group leader Winnipeg Hellas SC getting the day off, Calgary Callies took full advantage to gain three more points with a 3:1 victory over West Van FC at the 2009 BMO National Championships Challenge Trophy competition. Both Calgary and Hellas SC have six points, although Hellas SC has a game in hand and is perfect after two games.
The Calgary Callies are the two-time defending Challenge Trophy champions. To reach the 2009 final, Calgary will need to finish first in Group A, which means jumping ahead of Hellas SC. Calgary closes out its group action on Saturday against Real Toronto while Hellas SC plays host Huskie Alumni on Saturday and Real Toronto on Sunday.
Callies won 3:1 on the strength of goals by Felix Napuri, Allen Jovica and captain Chris Kooy. West Van FCs lone goal was scored by Desmond Tachie. In other group action, Real Toronto and host Huskie Alumni drew 2:2. Denny Velastegui and Geron Duporte scored for Toronto while Stephen Krieg and Paul Craig scored for Saskatoon.
'It was good to get a result,' said Huskie Alumni coach Bryce Chapman. 'We played better yesterday (in an 0:1 loss), but today we put away our chances to keep us in the medal hunt.'
In Group B action, Royal de Beauport won its second-straight match. It won 2:0 over Avondale Islanders with goals by David Chapdelaine-Miller and Boris Salou. For Salou, it was his tournament-leading fifth goal in three matches.
In the last game of the evening, Halifax City won 3:0 over Yukon Selects. Trevor Reddick, Kristin Kirincich and Carl Esminger scored for Halifax City.
The 2009 BMO National Championships Challenge Trophy runs 7-12 October in Saskatoon, SK. Ten teams split into two groups play a round-robin competition from Wednesday through Sunday. The classification matches, including the Challenge Trophy final, will all be played Monday 12 October.
BMO Financial Group is proud to support soccer at all levels across Canada, from grassroots to Canadas national teams. Starting with sponsorship of more than 400 Canadian youth teams to the title support of elite youth players at the BMO National Championships, through to the professional-team support (Toronto FC and Vancouver Whitecaps FC) and sponsorship of the Canadian mens and womens national soccer teams, BMO Financial Group is serious about Canadian soccer. For more information on BMOs support of soccer in Canada, visit bmosoccer.com.