Cowichan United continued to play the role of road warriors in Div. 2 of the Lower Island Women’s Soccer Association, playing to a 1-1 draw against Gorge United at Victoria’s Hampton Park on Sunday night.
United has been outstanding away from home this season, racking up three wins, a draw and a loss, while the team is still looking for its first victory on Cowichan Valley soil.
Head coach Adam Paulson can’t explain why his team has been so much better on the road than at home this season.
“Wish I knew,” he said. “If I did, I would try to bring it to the home games. My theory is that some teams have been underestimating us due to the results last year for Cowichan, we have certainly seen some teams pretty mad or disappointed that they haven’t won against us. We will see if that changes now that we are going into the second half of the season; we shouldn’t be able to surprise anyone from here on in.”
Cowichan came out strong in the first half, and were rewarded in the 32nd minute when Madison Thomas broke into the penalty area and put in a cross that a Gorge defender hit with her arm. Seleana Jack stepped up and delivered the subsequent penalty kick into the corner of the net to give her team the lead.
Gorge pressed after the Cowichan goal and rang the ball off the crossbar a couple of times before they found the back of the net in the 43rd minute.
“We were caught out by a short corner, and a well-placed shot into the top corner tied the game,” Paulson said.
Strong play at the back end by Kristina Biello, Sam Walker and Kate Collins helped create scoring chances for Thomas, Seleana Jack and Sophia Jack as Cowichan played a much better second half, but they were unable to hit the net.
Cowichan will hit the road again this weekend to play Castaways FC at PISE on Saturday.
