The Comox Valley United men’s team is undefeated five games into the season, and occupies sole possession of first place in Division 2 of the Vancouver Island Soccer League.
In its first four games, the team defeated Saanich, Prospect Lake, Hellas FC and Gorge United.
Saturday in Victoria, CVU handed Lakehill FC a 3-0 defeat.
“The game started out like every Div. 2 game,” player/coach Graeme McNeil said. “Both teams came flying out of the gate, trying to get an edge on the competition, which led to a bit of a scrappy first 15 minutes. But Comox was the better team, and started to establish dominance and take control.”
After a few narrow misses, Nick Marinus tucked in a cross from Dan Cato around the 25-minute mark.
“That first goal is so important and you could tell that it deflated Lakehill,” McNeil said.
Comox continued to pressure when Clay Fauchon smashed a right-footed bender from about 25 yards out, shortly before the half.
With Comox up by two at the 60-minute mark, it was time to make substitutions. Joe Butcher entered the game and was pressing hard to seal the deal with a third goal. His hard work was rewarded with goal number three around the 83rd minute. With the game under wraps, McNeil said the only thing left to do was to “park the bus,” and ensure goalkeeper and game MVP Tyler Griffith secured the shutout.
After five games, CVU has scored 14 goals and conceded just one.
This Saturday, Oct. 26, the squad hosts Fernwood at the Vanier turf. Fernwood sits in the middle of the standings with a 2-3-1 record.
Thompson Rivers Univesity WolfPack women
Goalkeeper Danielle Robertson of the Comox Valley earned her second clean sheet of the season in a 2-0 win over the University of B.C. Okanagan Heat, Oct. 10 in Kelowna.
The match was the opener of the annual President’s Cup series between TRU and UBCO. The teams played again Saturday, Oct. 12 in Kamloops in TRU’s final home game of the 2019-20 Canada West season. The match ended in a 1-1 draw.
In the final weekend of the regular season, TRU lost 4-2 Saturday to the U of Fraser Valley. It was the fist time in six years the WolfPack beat the Cascades. Camryn Curts scored the first goal of the game, and set up the second.
The team lost 4-0 Sunday to Trinity Western. TRU was eliminated from post-season play.
Vancouver Island University Mariners women
The Vancouver Island University Mariners women’s soccer team has lost just one game in the regular season.
Two products of the Comox Valley, Chloe Gummer and Justine McMahon, have been finding the back of the net all season. McMahon scored the only goal in a 1-0 road win Sept. 21 over Capilano University. In a home game Sept. 29, she and Gummer each scored once in a 3-0 win over Douglas College.
Gummer scored three times in a 4-2 home victory over Langara College Oct. 5.
VIU lost 1-0 on the road to Capilano Saturday, Oct. 19. Then on Sunday, Gummer scored once in a 2-0 road win over Douglas College.
The Mariners finish the regular season atop the Pacwest women’s soccer standings with 27 points. Douglas College finished second with 21 points. The championship tournament is this weekend in Burnaby.
