Pyrrhic victory

» Men’s soccer win bronze, lose berth at Nationals

Davie Wong
Sports Reporter

t was a rather bittersweet

weekend for the men of
the Royals soccer team. A
victory on Saturday afternoon
secured them third place in
the conference after a heart-
wrenching loss on Friday
evening, but it was a step
backwards for the team who
was looking to make the trip to
Nationals again.

The action started on
Friday afternoon against the
Kwantlen Eagles. A quick goal
by the Eagles put the Royals
down early, but the men fought
hard to take it back. A strike by
the Royals’ forward Yassin Essa
was all they needed to get back
into it. The Eagles were quick to
respond, however, scoring their
second in the next possession.
Down but not defeated, the
Royals roared back, charging
into the Eagles’ zone, forcing
them to foul for a penalty shot.
With the penalty shot cashed-in
and suddenly both teams found
themselves going into extra
time.

In was during extra time
when heartbreak occurred.

A corner, all but gifted to the
Eagles by the ref, resulted in a
header by Eagles striker Mateo

: Serka that found the back of the :
: net. It was that late goal that
: sealed the Royals’ fate and they
: could do nothing but watch as

: the clock ticked away with a

: final score of 3-2 for the Eagles.
: It was an upset of massive

: proportions and the men knew
: it as some lay on the ground,

: stunned by the loss.

Saturday’s action bade

: the men better luck. The

: Royals dominated the first

: half of the game against the
: Vancouver Island University
: Mariners, who were reeling :
: from their upset to the Capilano :
: Blues. Two early goals put 5;
: the Royals in a commanding

: lead and they dominated the

: midfield. Halftime brought

: some surprising changes as

: the coaches decided to field a
: primarily rookie team on the
: field for the rest of the game.

The change was

immediately visible as the

: Mariners capitalized against

: the Royals with two quick

: goals. The two teams traded

: goals again later in the game,

: as the lack of defensive prowess
: was evident. In the end, it was

: Douglas that came out on top

: with a late goal to finish the

: game 4-3.

Although happy that his

: team won bronze, co-coach

  

: Paul Bahia overall was not
: satisfied with his team’s results: :
: “Obviously we are upset with

: the way things came down.

: We didn’t come out the way we
: expected to come out, playing-

: wise... We had to be better asa

team to get the win... I think we :

: came in thinking we were going :
: to win [against KPU], based on:
: our skill and roster, and it didn’t :
: happen... Finishing first in the

: league wasn’t our main goal.

Our main goal was to get back
to Nationals... and I would call

: this year an unsuccessful year

because our main goal is to go

: to Nationals.”

Photo by Davie Wong

 

OP Player of the Month: Marni McMillan

» Star striker for the Royals

Davie Wong
Sports Reporter

Ma McMillan has

easily been one of the
most dominant players at the
collegiate level. Her 9 goals in
15 games placed her tied with
teammate Danae Harding at the
top of the leaderboard. She caps
off her season with a second
Player of the Year award win,
adding to the one she won last
year, as well as being named a
league All-Star.

For such an excellent
player, one would think that
Marni has been playing since
she could walk, In reality, Marni
did not actually start playing
until much later than her peers.
While many began at the ages
of four and five, Marni didn’t
actually play her first game
until she was nine. With both
her parents being professional
swimmers, Marni also started
with swimming, but made the
full transition to soccer after
she fell in love with game.

This season, Marni has
contributed to the team in
many other ways besides
her talented striking. Her

: leadership on and off the field is
: evident amongst her teammates
: and her coaches.

Coach Chris Laxton

: commented, “Marni is the

: definition of an impact player.
: This year she has played several
: positions and has found a way
: to positively contribute no

: matter where she has played.

: She is tightly marked by all

: Opposition teams and creates
: space for other players with

: her unselfish play. She also

: somehow still finds a way to

: score for us, despite being so

: tightly marked.

“We are happy for Marni on

winning her second consecutive
: PACWEST Player of the Year
: Award. It is well-deserved.”

Co-captains Kelsey Acaster

and Tiffany O’Krane also
: chimed in about the Player of
: The Year award winner.

“Marni is a reliable player

: who you can always count on
: to shine in critical moments.
: She encourages our team by
: playing at a high-intensity every :
: practice and game. She uses her
: knowledge of the game to push
: people to be their best. Off the
: field, Marni lights up the room

: with her positive energy and

: animated humour. With this

: dynamic set of strengths, Marni
: is a leader, and a great example
: of a true Royal,” said Acaster.

O’Krane noted that, “On

: the field, Marni always has one
: goal and focus in mind; the

? team, She always wants the

: team to succeed. You will never
: once hear her say anything

: about her own individual

: success. In a heartbeat, she

: would give up everything for

: the team to succeed. She leads

: by example every time she steps
: onto the field by pushing her

: hardest. She will literally run

: until she cannot run anymore.

: People look up to her for her

: ability to keep going even when
: times are tough. She has a way
: of bringing the team back up

: when things start to get ugly.

: Teammates know they can rely
: on her for anything.”

McMillan has been the

epitome of an excellent player.

: Her contributions to her team,

: onand off the field, have

: helped her team to a PACWEST
: Provincial Championship and a
: shot at the National crown,

 

Photo by Davie Wong