Head coach Glen Martin expected low-scoring games from Cowichan LMG this year, and so far, that prediction has come true.
Through two league games, the Div. 1 men’s soccer team has scored only two goals, but has also only given up one. The team’s most recent match was also their first win of the 2018-19 campaign, a 1-0 victory over Comox Valley United at the Sherman Road turf on Saturday afternoon.
“It was a tough game, low-scoring,” Martin said. “I thought we played pretty good. We don’t have the goal-scoring, so it was a hard-fought, low-scoring game.”
A win is a win in the standings, the coach pointed out, no matter how many goals a team scores.
“A 5-0 game is the same as 1-0,” he said. “You still get three points.”
Jordan Korven scored the lone goal on a near-post header off a corner kick with about 15 minutes left to play.
“We talked about how to score, and corner kicks and set pieces are key,” Martin said.
Early as it is in the season, it was vital for Cowichan to get the win on their home pitch.
“It was important we get three points, playing at home against one of the weaker teams in the league,” Martin said.
Cowichan had five call-ups from the U21 team in the lineup on Saturday, but also got veteran Steve Scott back for his first match of the year. Veteran Jose Muro earned the team hard hat for his hard work, and Darian Achurch got the shutout in goal.
Cowichan will be at home again this weekend, hosting Bays United on Saturday at 4 p.m.
“It’s another big game,” Martin said. “It’s sure to be a hard-fought, physical, defensive battle. They’ve got lots of offence, so they’ll be coming at us. We’ll play hard and see what happens.”
