In her first year of Pacific Western Athletic Association (PACWEST) play, Chloe Gummer is first in league scoring.
Through Week 3, the Vancouver Island University Mariners women’s soccer freshman had five goals in six games, two more than second-place Andrea Perrotta of Douglas College Royals. Gummer’s torrid scoring pace has helped the Mariners jump from #7 to #5 in the latest Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) rankings.
The Mariners sit second in the PACWEST standings with a 2-0-4 conference record, good for 10 points. Langara College Falcons (3-1-2) lead the Mariners by one point.
Gummer, a Highland Secondary grad from Comox, burst on to the PACWEST scene in Week 1, scoring three goals against defending conference champion Douglas College Royals in a 5-5 draw on Sept. 10. VIU Athletics spokesperson Brent Dunlop noted that an excellent save by the Douglas keeper in the 90th minute denied Gummer a fourth tally.
On Sept. 11, Dunlop said Gummer was instrumental in the Mariners’ first goal, using her soccer IQ to clear a lane for Rachel Jones to score in a 2-2 draw with Langara.
Her efforts earned Gummer PACWEST Female Soccer Athlete of the Week honours.
This past weekend the Mariners remained undefeated, defeating Douglas Royals 3-1 on Sept. 24 and and Langara Falcons 1-0 on Sept. 25.
“Last time we played (Douglas) it ended 5-5 and I thought we were very nervous and made some mistakes that cost us,” said VIU head coach Anup Kang. “It was our first league game with some new players. For this game we were focused right from the opening whistle,” Kang said.
Kang said the Mariners knew Langara was going to be a tough game, but his team stayed focused for the full 90 minutes and gutted out a big win. “Chloe Gummer was a handful in both of our weekend games, she’s a special player.”
THROW INS The Mariners are on the road this weekend for games Oct. 1 against Capilano and Oct. 2 against Quest University … adding to the Mariners’ depth up front is G.P. Vanier grad Katie Rodgers of Courtenay, a fourth year forward … Gummer played for the Upper Island Riptide in the Vancouver Island Premier League last year and was one of the leading goal scorers in that high-calibre youth soccer circuit …
