Staff
The new-look second season got underway in the Borderland Soccer League last night.
International Travel Services topped Manitou Forest Products 2-1 last night in the first leg of their two-game semifinal at the Struchan Gilson Memorial Soccer Pitch.
This year, the men’s division adopted the UEFA Champions League knockout phase format, which sees teams there play two games against each other, with each side hosting once.
Max Williams tallied both goals for ITS, which finished third in the regular season, while league goal scoring champion Ahamadou Idrissou replied for second-place Manitou.
Tyler Hamm got the win between the pipes over counterpart Carter Chorney.
The second leg of the series will be held on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m.
A tie or a win would send ITS into the league final next Thursday (Aug. 11).
Should Manitou win by two or more goals, it would be the one to advance.
A one-goal victory for Manitou would force the teams to play two five-minute overtime sessions with the sudden-death “golden goal” rule in effect.
If there is still no clear winner, it will come down to penalty kicks.
In other action last night, the first-place La Place Rendez-Vous U18 Voyageurs played to a 1-1 draw with feisty fourth-place underdog Pharmasave.
Kirk Johnson scored for the Voyageurs, with Cole Kowalski guarding the cage for the Vous.
Olaf Ruppenstein tallied for Pharmasave, with Kamil Niemczyk preserving the tie in goal.
The two teams will take to the field on Monday at 6:30 p.m. to wrap up their two-leg series.
A win in regulation, overtime or through penalty kicks by either team will put them into the title match.
The women’s division semifinal will go on Tuesday, with second-place Al’s Racquet Stringing challenging third-place Taggs/Source for Sports.
