Soccer Season Opens: Two Games, Two Wins

VIU Mariners men's and women's soccer teams earn victories in their 2021 PACWEST season openers.
September 20, 2021

The VIU Mariners soccer squads kicked off their 2021 seasons in style with a pair of home wins over the Langara Falcons.

Women: VIU 5, Langara 0

Jordan King brings down a ball versus the Langara Falcons. Photo: Northfield Photography

Even though VIU returned more than a dozen players from the team that won silver at the 2019 CCAA national championships, it was newcomer Jordan King who powered the Mariners towards a 5-0 season opening win with two clinical first-half penalty kicks (31st minute, 45+1) and a number of dangerous forays towards goal.

Their goals—along with a 43rd minute left-footed curling strike from Justine McMahon—sent the Mariners into the half-time break with a 3-0 lead.

Late in the second half, Mariners midfielder Shea Battie took over. After nearly scoring on a shot near the corner, she set up rookie Sydney Kelly, unmarked in front of goal, for her first PACWEST goal in the 85th minute. Battie finished the scoring herself by arching a left-footed strike over the outstretched keeper shortly before full time. 

The Mariners launched 16 shots on the Langara goal while Melanie Osborne, credited with two saves, earned the clean sheet in the Mariners net. 

The Mariners start at 1-0 while the Falcons fall to 0-2.

Men: VIU 2, Langara 1

Shun Takano battles for a loose ball versus the Langara Falcons. Photo: Northfield Photography

An evenly-played match with plenty of battles but few shots on goal went the way of the home side—also in league play for the first time since earning CCAA silver in 2019—as the Mariners defeated the Falcons 2-1.

Two dynamite chances for the Falcons in the first minute of play—following their previous day's victory over the Douglas Royals—showed that the visitors from Vancouver had no shortage of quality up-front, and a successful penalty kick from Taynor Bashghareh in the 36th minute gave the Falcons the lead.

Shun Takano launched a number of long-range attempts in an effort to get VIU on the board, including a near-equalizer directly following the Langara goal.

Just as the first half injury time hit, the Mariners finally hit back, with 6'3" defender Matthew Coburn heading a free kick from Michael Heppelle past the leaping Falcons keeper and into the back of the net.

"I thought we started slow but found some rhythm mid-way through the first half," Mariners head coach Larry Stefanek said. "I was very pleased how we responded after conceding the first goal on a penalty kick: creating two excellent chances before we equalized on the stroke of half time."

The second half featured more tough play as the teams battled downpour conditions through portions of the half.

Moments after blocking a Langara free kick, a Mariners charge up the pitch led to Taylor Arbour chipping a cross-field pass to Grayson Chalifoux, sprinting into space down the right side.  A one-touch low shot from Chalifoux found the left side of the net and stood up as the eventual game winner.

 "We were better in possession in the second half and caused them a few problems at the back," Stefanek said.  "[It was an] excellent goal on the counter attack to secure the three points.  A good overall team win and we will look to address a few things in training this week to prepare for two big matches this coming weekend."

Mariner goalkeeper Ben Chamberlin, with two saves, earned the win in the VIU net.

The Mariners enter the standings at 1-0 while the Falcons fall to 1-1.

Up Next

The Mariners remain on the Island but switch from the NDSS Turf Field to the Beban Park Turf Fields (Merle Logan Field) for home games versus the Douglas Royals on Saturday, September 25 (1 pm women, 3:30 pm men) and Sunday, September 26 versus the Capilano Blues (11:45 am & 2:15 pm).

CCAA National Rankings

The first 2021 CCAA national soccer rankings were released on September 21st, with VIU men ranked in the top spot and women at #2. 

Media

New this season: PACWEST soccer games are streamed live and available for post-match viewing at PACWEST.TV. Photos of both games are shot and posted online courtesy Northfield Photography.