Men's Provincial Preview
The final four in men's soccer opens Friday at 3:00pm
Following the women’s semi-finals, the men will take centre stage at the PACWEST Provincial Soccer Championship tournament on Friday. A pair of semis are set to kick-off at 3:00pm.
#1 Capilano Blues vs. #4 Quest Kermodes – 3:00pm – Field #3
The Blues became the first undefeated team since the 2011 VIU Mariners after a stellar 2016 campaign. The Blues who are defending their PACWEST title from a year ago scored an incredible 34 goals and allowed just six. Keith Jackson scored a Conference high 11 goals, while last year’s Rookie of the Year Kristian Yli-Hietanen potted seven. They have been a lethal 1-2 punch all season long, giving opposition defences fits on a daily basis.
Not only do the Blues possess the best offence, but the best defence as well. It’s a group that starts with All-Star goalkeeper Hudson Nelles who collected six shutouts and a 0.47 goals against average in 11 games played. The Blues’ six goals allowed were the fewest since the 2009 Mariners, in an 11 game schedule.
As good as the Blues offence has been this year; it’s not put up big numbers against the Kermodes. In the three games played, two of them were decided by just one goal (1-0). The four goals the Blues have scored against the kermodes have all come from four different scorers.
The Kermodes are still looking for their first goal against the Blues this season, getting shut out in three straight games. During the regular season they scored 16 times led by All-Star Jeremy Monn who had five. Yassin Nayel and Noah Derappared-Yuswack each had 3 this year.
On the backend Sam MacDonald played every game in goal. He finished the year with a 1.64 goals against average and a shutout. He did play well against the high powered Blues offence, allowing four goals in three games.
This is just the second time the Kermodes have competed in the PACWEST Provincial Championship tournament.
#2 VIU Mariners vs. #3 Douglas College Royals – 3:00pm - Field #4
This will be the fourth meeting of the season between the Mariners and Royals. The Mariners have won twice and outscored the Royals 5-3.
Last season these two clubs were upset in the semi-finals before playing in the bronze medal game in which the Royals won 4-3.
In the regular season the Mariners scored 24 times, led by Billy Bagiopoulos and his seven goals. The PACWEST Player of the Year Shun Takano along with Victor Blasco each scored four times. Blasco scored two of his goals in the first game of the season against these same Royals.
Goalkeeper David Turkstra played from wire to wire for the Mariners in the regular season collecting three shutouts and a 1.58 goals against average. One of his three shutouts was against the Royals.
A mid-season slump by the Royals pushed them down into third place winning just twice in their final seven games after a hot start winning three of five.
They went on to win five games and score 18 goals in the regular season. Offensively rookie Race Williams led the club with five goals. Matteo Serka scored four times. The three goals they scored against the Mariners were scored by three different players.
Goaltending has been a bit of a rollercoaster for the Royals. Jared Horvath played nine games, collected a 1.65 goals against average and a shutout while Patrick Dominguez played five games and had a 2.16 goals against average. Horvath played two and a half games against the Mariners during the regular season