For the first time this season, Kwantlen Polytechnic University’s two soccer teams were both winless.
But both the men’s and women’s teams maintained a third place standings as the PACWEST season passed the halfway mark of the schedule.
The Kwantlen Eagles had a loss and a tie in two games against the first place Douglas Royals, and although they are now tied for third with the Langara Falcons they are still in a playoff position with six games to play.
“This weekend was another step in the learning process of our young team,” sad head coach Ajit Braich. “However, it has showed that we can compete with the best.”
Douglas and the Vancouver Island Mariners share top spot, each with five wins a three ties in eight games played.
Playing at home at Newton Athletic Park Saturday afternoon, the Eagles scored first on a free kick from North Delta’s Jake Starheim, but Douglas tied the game before halftime in a game that ended in a 1-1 tie.
Sunday in Coquitlam, the Eagles lost for the first time this season after completing the first half of their schedule with three wins and four ties. The Royals scored both goals in the first half for a 2-0 victory.
Kwantlen will play its final two home games of the season next weekend, hosting the seventh place UBC-Okanagan Heat Saturday, and the fifth place Thompson Rivers University Wolfpack Sunday. Both games kickoff at 2 p.m. at Newton Athletic Park.
For the women, playing to a pair of draws with a seventh-place Douglas team was a disappointment to the Eagles.
The Royals got the first goal Saturday after just 10 minutes to play, but Kwantlen replied with a goal from North Delta’s Cheley Lal from the penalty spot in the second half in what would be a 1-1 tie.
Chelea Jewell, a Sands Secondary graduate, got her first start in goal Sunday in Coquitlam and earned a shutout in a scoreless tie with the Royals.
With a 3-3-2 (won-tie-loss) record, the Eagles are a point back of second place the Langara Falcons, and one ahead of the UBC-Okanagan Heat.
Kwantlen is at home twice next weekend, with two games at noon at Newton Athletic Park. The Heat visit Saturday, with the first-place Thompson Rivers University Wolfpack the opponent on Sunday.
