The 2021 PACWEST soccer season opened this past weekend in wet conditions, but the players didn’t seem to care because they were FINALLY back on the pitch. The past weekend marked the first PACWEST sport to return to action since the pandemic began.
SATURDAY
Douglas Royals 4
Langara Falcons 1
The Falcons opened the scoring when Cassidy Kwan found the back of the net in the ninth minute. After that however it was all Royals who scored four unanswered goals for their first win of the season.
Hannah dela Cruz tied the game in the 46th minute, her first of the season. Then just six minutes later Alicia Skirzyk scored what turned out to be the game winner giving the Royals their first lead. In the 76th minute Morgann Price scored her first of the season followed by another insurance goal in the 83rd minute from N’Dae John. Royals’ keeper Elisha Machado made four saves in the win.
SUNDAY
VIU Mariners 5
Langara Falcons 0
The defending PACWEST champion Mariners shot out of the gate on Sunday when Jordan King opened the scoring the eighth minute on the strength of a penalty kick. It would also turn out to be the game winner. Just before the half Justine McMahon lit the lamp in the 42nd minute to give the Mariners a two-goal lead, then in the 45th minute King got her second of the game again on a penalty kick to give the champs a healthy three goal lead heading into the locker room.
In the second half Sydney Kelly hit the score sheet in the 85th minute followed by Shea Battie just a few moments later.
Returning keeper Melanie Osborne recorded the shutout making just two saves.
Capilano Blues 2
Douglas Royals 2
On a wet Sunday the Blues and Royals played to a 2-2 tie with all four goals scored in the second half. This was the first meeting between these two teams since the Blues upset the Royals in the 2019 PACWEST semi-finals.
It was the Blues that opened the scoring when returner Catrina Olstrom scored in the 60th minute. The Royals wasted little time tying the game and taking the lead. In the 67th minute Alicia Slirzyk struck to tie the game before Jessica Parks gave the Royals their first lead in the 68th minute. In the 81st minute the Blues retied the game when Layla Campbell scored her first of the season.
The game remained tied with both keepers extremely busy between the pipes. Royals’ keeper Elisha Machado made 14 saves while former Royal Alexa Gazzola made nine saves for the Blues.