The VIU Mariners soccer teams are at the top of the table, right where they want to be for playoffs.
Vancouver Island University’s men’s and women’s soccer teams closed out the regular season with shutouts over the Kwantlen Polytechnic Eagles on Sunday at Merle Logan Field. The M’s women won 1-0 and the men followed up with a 2-0 victory.
The Mariners men (10-2-3) and women (11-3-1) both finish first in the Pacific Western Athletic Association regular season.
“I’m really proud of the girls. They’ve worked really hard,” said Anup Kang, coach of the Mariners ladies.
Katie Rodgers scored the game-winning goal Sunday and Shelby Walker had the shutout.
“We’ve got goals that we want to meet and this is just the first of our goals,” said Kang. “Now we move on to the second step.”
For the men, Victor Blasco scored both goals Sunday and Scott Brown finished with the shutout.
“I was pleased with the way we worked today,” said Bill Merriman, coach of the men’s team. “Obviously it’s great to finish the season with a win at home.”
Both Mariners teams had lost 2-1 to the Douglas Royals the day before at Merle Logan, so Sunday’s shutouts give them back momentum before playoffs.
GAME ON … Provincials will be hosted by Quest University in Squamish. The VIU women play Kwantlen on Friday (Oct. 24) at 7 p.m., while the VIU men start action Saturday at 1 p.m. against the host Kermodes.
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