Kevin Kothlow’s goal for Penticton Dental Centre United sealed the men’s 45-plus Okanagan Valley League championship against Kelowna, 3-1 on Sunday.
Penticton started strong against Kelowna North Country Appraisals, scoring 10 minutes in when Zico Pescada’s free kick just outside the box found Mike Beliveau, who fired a hard one-timer past Kelowna keeper Dave Gadd.
Penticton missed several other scoring chances and controlled play until the latter part of the half when Kelowna found their legs and began putting pressure.
Kelowna’s Steve Fagan tied the game at the 30th minute on a hard blast that Penticton keeper Rob Kroeker couldn’t handle. Kelowna continued to push for a go-ahead goal but the game remained tied.
In the final half, Penticton again regained control and Chad Henderson made it 2–1 when he stripped the defender of the ball and beat Gadd with a shot to the low corner.
North Country fought back and created chances, but Kroeker came up big for Penticton.
At the 75-minute mark, Joe Jacoe carried the ball from Penticton’s end and, after a give-and-go with Pescada, finished the play by beating a defender and finding Rob Jackson who hit Kothlow for a tap in.
Penticton dominated the play after that goal.
Penticton Dental Centre United didn’t lose a game all season, winning 15 and trying three.
North Country finished third in the regular season, but edged out No. 2 Brown’s Benefits of Kelowna in semifinal playoff action last week.