Vancouver Island University Mariners player Kaylee Dodds, right, keeps the ball away from a Capilano Blues opponent during Sunday’s match at Merle Logan Field. VIU won 4-0.

Vancouver Island University Mariners player Kaylee Dodds, right, keeps the ball away from a Capilano Blues opponent during Sunday’s match at Merle Logan Field. VIU won 4-0.

Mariners win with shutouts

NANAIMO – Vancouver Island University’s women’s soccer team won both its matches on the weekend at Merle Logan Field.

The VIU Mariners totally shut down the competition and scored two more wins in PacWest play.

Vancouver Island University’s women’s soccer team won both its matches on the weekend at Merle Logan Field, shutting out the Langara Falcons 2-0 on Saturday and then handling the Capilano Blues 4-0 the next day.

It was the third straight victory for VIU’s women, who are now above .500 with a 4-3-0 record.

“We’re trying to turn it around. We want to go for that first place,” said Jill Kelly, who scored two goals against Cap. “So it was really important today that we came out and made a statement.”

Katie Rodgers and Savannah Jensen were VIU’s other scorers on Sunday and Kasie Lough recorded the shutout.

The M’s had been upset by the Blues the last time the sides had met, so the Mariners had been looking forward to a better effort in the rematch.

“We had good through balls today. We just went at their defenders, we didn’t lay off at all,” Kelly said. “We tried to keep it in their end [with] high pressure and lots of shots.”

In the previous day’s victory, Rodgers and Kelly were the scorers.

Kelly said the team seems to be working in the right direction toward achieving its goals.

“I feel ike every week we’re getting stronger…” she said. “We’re getting more comfortable with each other and our play together has gotten stronger all the way across the board.”

In other VIU soccer action on the weekend, the Mariners men tied the Falcons 1-1 and beat the Blues 2-1.

GAME ON … VIU’s soccer teams are home again next weekend (Oct. 3-4) at Merle Logan Field. The women host Douglas at 1 p.m. Saturday with the men at 3:30 p.m. Sunday’s game times are noon and 2:30 p.m., respectively.

sports@nanaimobulletin.com

Nanaimo News Bulletin