Vancouver Island University’s men’s soccer team was honoured on the weekend for its 2010 national championship.
Clearly, staying at the top of the heap will be a difficult task – the VIU Mariners lost their home opener 1-0 to the Douglas Royals on Saturday at Mariner Field, then tied the Kwantlen Eagles the next day 2-2.
On Saturday the visitors struck early, capitalizing on some miscommunication between VIU’s goalkeeper and a defender.
Jared Stephens and Stephen Ewashko scored in Sunday’s tie with Dan Mercer handling goalkeeping duties in that game. Both Kwantlen’s goals were scored on penalty kicks.
The VIU women had a more up-and-down weekend. The Mariners started with a 4-0 victory in their home opener Saturday against the Royals. The M’s scored three first-half goals as Jolene Nagy, Mariah Robinson and then Nagy again tallied. Melissa Orton scored a second-half goal.
The M’s women lost 5-0 the next day against the Eagles. Coach Anup Kang said in a press release that his team had a strong first few minutes, but that was about it as the visitors scored four times in the first half to roll.
“We expect this group to bounce back…” said Kang. “We know we are going to be in a dogfight to make the playoffs this year.”
GAME ON … Both the women’s and men’s Mariners play their next Pacific Western Athletic Association games on the road Saturday (Sept. 24) in Prince George against the University of Northern B.C. Timberwolves.