Splitting loose ends

> Royals WSOC split points in week six

Davie Wong
Sports Editor

 

eek six of PACWEST action saw
the Royals women’s soccer team

take on the Quest Kermodes and the
VIU Mariners in pre-playoff action. First
in line were the Quest Kermodes, who
were fighting for their playoff lives. Their
desperation to stay alive would be a
unique challenge for the Royals.

The Kermodes came out strong,
but the Royals held them back. After
wearing out the Kermodes, it was simply
a matter of time before the Royals ran
them down. Mikayla Hamilton would
start the job for the Royals, converting
from the spot on a foul in the box in the
4ist minute. 1-0 Royals.

Captain Sam Kell helped double
her team’s lead with a wonderful cross
to co-captain Michelle Wessa. However,
the Kermodes weren't completely empty.
Sachi Swift would answer for the visitors,
bringing the score to 2-1. Sam Kell would
find herself back on the scorecard as
she capped off the game with a goal of
her own, making the score 3-1. Her goal
would turn out to be the game winner, as
the Royals brushed aside the Kermodes.

Form as expected

> Royals MSOC split game leading up to playoffs

¢¢ While a 3-0 loss looks poor
for the team, the level of
competition was high’

Next in line were the VIU Mariners.
The Mariners were battling for a better
playoff positioning. In particular, the
Mariners are hoping to avoid the Royals.
Whenever these two giants clash, there
are bounds to be sparks. The Mariners
got the game started with a big goal from
Karen Battie in minute 19.

It would be a whole half before
the Royals got anything back. Michelle
Wessa brought home the game-tying
goal for the Royals, scoring the second
in as many games. Four minutes later,
the Royals scored the go-ahead goal off a
shot from Sam Kell.

Although they Royals had their lead,
it wasn’t over yet. The Mariners pushed
hard for their equalizer, and in the 86
minute, Chloe Gummer found it. The
goal was a heart breaker for the Royals,
as they had played well up to that point.
Unfortunately, that goal resigned the
Royals to just a tie.

The results of the weekend leave
the Royals at the top of the table with
a record of 6-3-2 and 20 points. With
one game left, the Royals can have a
maximum of 23 points on the season.
The team has a chance to win the regular
season best record next week when they
play the Capilano Blues.

Photo by Davie Wong

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Davie Wong
Sports Editor

 

fter last week’s performance

against the Langara Falcons, the
Royals men’s soccer team looked like
they were finally finding their form.
In week 6 of PACWEST soccer action
the Royals faced off against the Quest
Kermodes and VIU Mariners. The
matches had quite some significance
for the team, as they were fighting to
secure their roster positioning.

The Royals game against the
Kermodes started out drab, but quickly
evolved to something more. Both sides
would take a o-o draw into the half.
Shortly into the second half, the Royals
found their opening goal off a foul from
the Kermodes inside the box. Edris
Najm buried the ensuing penalty kick
in minute 52 to give his team the lead.

The Royals would double their lead
30 minutes later. Tetsuya Yoshinaga
buried an absolute rocket of a shot
from the 18 yard line. The second
goal would be the game winner as the

Royals guided their 2-0 lead to a win.

Despite the result, the Royals’
season was not over yet. The VIU
Mariners were the day after. A quick
goal from Victor Blasco from the
penalty mark put the Royals behind.
The two teams clashed heavily. It was
a battle of possession as both sides
traded the ball back and forth.

However, like a beaver dam, the
Royals burst. The breaker was a 75th
minute goal off from Stefan Cukovic.
Jordan Degraaf added another one to
make the lead 3-0, and that was all she
wrote.

While a 3-0 loss looks poor for
the team, the level of competition was
high. Safe to say all games matter,
especially at the end of the season. But
not all games matter. For the most part,
the season is over.

The week results put the Royals at
4-4-2, and 14 points. The Royals have
secured third place in the PACWEST
and regardless of results next week will
maintain that. Next week, they face off
against the Capilano Blues which could
very well be their playoff opponents.

  

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