They’ve had a season for the books so far; steam rolling over the competition and the class of the league, but the challenge now is to try and keep the ball rolling for the next month in preparation for their run at the provincials.
“It’s tough; we haven’t played for two weeks now,” Oceanside United skipper Dan Mahony said this week when The News caught up with him.
The local ladies of soccer where supposed to close out their Mid Island Women’s Soccer League regular season last Sunday in Campbell River against the Bandits but that was shelved because of snow. The week before that last place Campbell River United opted out of making the trip down to Qualicum for their scheduled MIWSL match.
Completely understandable considering the outcome that awaited.
Assuming they are awarded the win by default — the MIWSL holds its annual year end tournament this weekend in Courtenay — Oceanside United finishes the regular season 12-1-1 overall in the 10-team league’s 2011/2012 season and unbeaten at 7-0 since December and the start of the second season, the BC Cup qualifying round.
Their only loss came way back in week one in a game they dominated and the tie was a result of an own-goal.
Veteran OU keeper Pam Richer finished the regular season riding a streak of eight straight shutouts and a 10 to her credit.
The local side’s last game was a 5-nil win over the CVUSC Revolution in Comox the week before, and the last two wins by default lifts their BC Cup qualifying record to 7-0.
Angelina Gasteldello and Natasha Collins torched Comox for two goals apiece, and Taylor Mang added a single in that one.
Offensively, the locals have been lights out this season, having scored 42 goals while giving up only three. In the second season OU out scored the opposition 21-0 in five games.
Impressive numbers considering this was expected to be a rebuilding year of sorts for Oceanside United, who, under Mahony’s watch have been the class of their league for the past four seasons.
This marks their fourth straight MIWSL title and fourth straight trip to the BC’s — last year they travelled to the Mainland and were short-staffed when they were knocked out in the first round by Surrey United.
The challenge now he said is finding competitive teams to play exhibition games against.
“The layoff for two weeks is a bit of a setback for us but I’m hoping we’re able to regain some of that attacking soccer this weekend,” said the longtime local volunteer coach, “but yeah it’s frustrating when things are going well …we’re definitely going to the BCs, but it’s not for another month.”
Their first BC Cup game will be either April 14 or 15 — hopefully here on the Island, but either way the team will find out April 2 when Soccer BC announces the provincial draw.
The provincials are single knockout — OU won the league handily last year but were short-benched and bowed out in the first round of the playoffs.
The two finalists will have to win three games to get to the final.
“We’ve had an excellent season,” said Mahony. “It’s a good group we have — we will be there, and we will prepare the best we can and represent Oceanside well.”
HIGH OCTANE STRIKER Angelina Gasteldello, above, and her Oceanside United teammates were the class of their league again this year and will now try and stay busy leading up to the BC Cup next month. James Clarke photo
