Mariners Battle Royals

#3 Douglas Royals @ #2 VIU Mariners – Saturday October 29, 4:30pm | WATCH HERE

This semi-final should be a dandy as the Mariners and Royals meet on the pitch for the fifth time this season.  Not only a berth in Sunday’s PACWEST gold medal game on the line, but a ticket to the CCAA Nationals as well.

These teams are so evenly matched.  They have identical 5-2-5 records, have outstanding forwards that can score at any moment, midfielders who can control the ball, a backline of experienced athletes and a keeper that can steal a game.

In their four previous meetings, three of them ended in a tie including a 0-0 draw in their last game.  The non-tied game went to the Mariners with a 2-1 victory.

The Mariners scored five times in the seasonal series with All-Star Billy Bagiopoulos scoring three of the goals.  He tallied eight in the regular season and led his club.   Declan Brown scored one as did All-Star Matthew Coburn against the Royals.

Keeper Kevin Picard was solid in the series, however in one of the games received a red card and was ejected.  He was in goal when the Mariners won the lone game of the series.

They have not lost in the month of October and finished 3-0-3 down the stretch to capture second place and will be the home team for this semi-final.

The Royals come into the postseason on a two-game winning streak with their last setback coming at the hands of the Mariners.  They have scored four goals in the seasonal series with four different goal scorers.   All-Star keeper Jacob McCall has also been solid in the series, but the Mariners are the only team he doesn’t have a win against this year.

The winner of today’s semi-final will meet the #1 seeded Langara Falcons in Sunday’s PACWEST gold medal game.  They will also receive a berth into the 2022 CCAA National championship tournament because the Falcons are the host and have already claimed a berth.

Head-to-Head

Records: Royals 5-2-5 – Mariners 5-2-5
Goals Scored: Royals 22 – Mariners 15
Goals Allowed: Royals 15 – Mariners 14

Scoring Leaders: Zachari Ouariti-Zerouali – 5 goals (Royals) – Billy Bagiopoulos – 8 goals (Mariners)