VIU Mariners Off-Season Forecast

The defending PACWEST champion VIU Mariners are ready to defend their title for the first time in 23 months. The Mariners are also the defending CCAA silver medalists after a snowy 3-0 loss at the nationals in 2019 in Edmonton.

The Mariners open the new PACWEST season this weekend and ultimately are looking for the first three-peat since the TRU Wolfpack achieved the feat from 2011-2013. Oddly enough the Mariners have claimed a PACWEST medal each year since that three-peat ended.
What’s New with the Mariners:

A pair of new coaches will join the Mariners staff and are both former players. Former captain Nicole Foglietta takes over as the fitness & wellness coach while Evan Carr joins as a Performance Analyst.

Key Grads:

Chloe Gummer – she was simply outstanding for the Mariners and will be sorely missed. She led her team and the Conference in scoring during the 2019 season with seven goals which included a hat-trick in a 4-2 win against the Langara Falcons. She finished her four-year PACWEST career with an impressive 23 goals, second most in VIU/Malaspina history.

Harroop Mali – she was a rock in the Mariners defensive core during her four-year career. The Comox native leaves big cleats to fill in the backend.

Team Captains:

Shea Battie – entering her fourth year the midfielder has been given the opportunity to lead after three solid seasons of commitment and performance. In 2019 she scored two goals and played in 11 of the team’s 12 games.

Cara Dunlop – she enters her third season at the midfielder position and is a player who has incredible instinct. In 2019 she played in all 12 games giving her the leadership skills to lead the Mariners here in 2021.

What They Needed:

Coach Kevin Lindo has brought in three new forwards, a midfielder and cover in the defensive core. He is pleased with their recruiting efforts and is particularly excited to bring in two new local athletes in Courtney Ingram and Julia Noon.

The Mariners open the season on the road on Saturday when they travel to the lower mainland for a date with the Capilano Blues, before hosting their home opener at NDSS Turf Field on Sunday against the Langara Falcons.