Royal Blues: Mariners drop two games in Week 2

Mariners go 0-2 on a Week 2 homestand.

Saturday: Douglas Royals 1, VIU Mariners 0

VIU came out ahead on nearly every stat line except for the final score as the Douglas Royals gutted out a 1-0 win during an unseasonably warm and sunny afternoon at Beban Park.

The Mariners earned 7 corners to none for the Royals and launched 15 shots towards goal or on target compared to 6 for their New Westminster opponents.

However, a good number of those VIU shots were close calls or narrowly fired over the crossbar, and first-year Royals forward Amanda Hila's goal shortly after the start of the second half was all the offense required to earn the victory for the green-clad Royals.

VIU goalkeeper Melanie Osborne made four saves.

Sunday: Capilano Blues 5, VIU Mariners 2

A speedy Capilano team was not slowed by wind or drizzle at the NDSS Turf Field and went right at the Mariners, scoring four goals in the first half en route to a 5-2 win.

VIU had dangerous chances in the first half, including two shots off the post and a narrowly-missed penalty kick by Jordan King. However, Capilano goals in the 6th, 23rd, 29th, and 38th minutes gave them a daunting lead at half time.

The Mariners attacked with more poise in the second half. Despite giving up another goal to the Blues in the 55th minute--Claire Ye's second goal of the game--VIU continued to press and earned goals from Sydney Kelly (59th minute-second goal of the season) and Kate Reynolds (68th minute). These goals sandwiched another penalty kick attempt by King that was saved by the Blues 'keeper and the Mariners weren't able to break through again in the final 20 minutes.

Mariner goalkeeper Osborne went the distance in the VIU net, recording four saves.

Up Next

The Mariners sit in third place in the PACWEST conference with a 1-2 record and hit the road for the next three games, starting with Week 3 matchups versus the Langara Falcons on Saturday, October 2 (1:00 PM) and Douglas Royals on Sunday, October 3 (12:00 PM). Games are streamed live at PACWEST.TV.