The PACWEST soccer season enters Week 2 with all five teams in action.
On the women’s side one of the most intriguing match-ups this weekend will be on Saturday afternoon when the VIU Mariners visit the Quest Kermodes. Both teams are still looking for their first win of the new campaign after each earning a point with a tie last weekend.
The Kermodes played just one game last weekend and scored a 1-1 tie with the Douglas Royals on the strength of a Kelsey Green goal.
The Mariners on the other hand collected a point after a 1-1 tie with the Langara Falcons, then dropped their Sunday meeting with the Royals 3-0. Karen Battie scored the lone marker for the Mariners.
This is a statement game for the Kermodes. Last season they didn’t win a game but did earn a pair of ties with the Mariners, then got shutout 4-0. Playing to a tie with the Royals last week, then playing a positive game against the Mariners would pay dividends for the Kermodes as the opposition will need to take them seriously.
“I am excited for the game this weekend,” says Kermodes head coach Chris Sargeant. “We had a very good performance and a good result against a good Douglas team which could have been a win for us too! That game has given us a great platform to build from moving forward.”
For the defending champion Mariners they find themselves in a similar situation as last year after the first weekend. They started with four straight ties and didn’t get their first win until Week 3.
"The ladies have been great in training after a tough opening weekend,” says head coach Kevin Lindo. “We're learning all the time as a group and I'm very happy with the response of late. Now this needs to translate into results and we will give everything we've got this weekend."
Kick-off on the campus of Quest University is scheduled for 1:00pm between the Kermodes and Mariners on Saturday.