Vancouver Island University’s soccer teams did what they needed to do to get ready for provincials.
The men’s team (8-0-3) and the women’s team (5-5-1) played their final regular-season games Saturday and Sunday at Mariner Field. The VIU Mariners men tied the UBC-Okanagan Heat 1-1 on Saturday, then shut out the Thompson Rivers University WolfPack 2-0 on Sunday. VIU’s women lost 2-0 to UBC-O but tied TRU 1-1 the next day.
In the men's game Saturday, Matt Mehrassa scored his team's only goal on a free kick.
On Sunday, the last game of the season, the M's rested some starters who were nursing injury or were in card trouble, and gave everyone some playing time in the second half.
"It didn't matter – the second half was as good as the first half," said Bill Merriman, VIU coach. "That was a bonus for us heading into the provincials. We want everybody firing."
Romaie Martin scored midway through the first half when he finished off a cross pass. In the second half, Stephen Ewashko scored on a solo effort a minute after he had had a penalty kick stopped. Dan Mercer recorded the shutout.
In women's action, Emma Johansson scored the only goal of the weekend for VIU 15 minutes into Sunday's game. TRU was able to tie the score late in the game.
"I'm really proud of the girls because they came out and they played really intense, focused soccer and showed that they're one of the top teams," said Anup Kang, coach of the M's.
GAME ON … The Pacific Western Athletic Association championships start Friday (Oct. 28) in Kelowna. Look for a playoff preview in Thursday's News Bulletin or online at www.nanaimobulletin.com.
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