Kwantlen women’s soccer: two for two

As provincial champions the Eagles had to bring their A-game against UNBC. With pressure mounting, the women’s soccer team was able to pull out another win in sunny Prince George.

By Chelsea Jewel

The Kwantlen Eagles Women’s Soccer team was ready for a long journey to UNBC to play game two in the current short season.

Following last week’s game, every player was ready to bring a different level of intensity, all being well aware of what was at stake.

Every game counts, and for that number one spot to shadow last year’s success, a win was necessary for the game. Prince George offered a fanstastic scenic background to the well-played game.

The Eagles kicked off with a diligent start and extreme focus. Dominique Lang, starting at left forward, pressured the ball, quickly breaking down the defence of the

Timberwolves. A sudden slip in the 18-yard box offered Lang the first goal on a well placed penalty shot in the 3rd minute. Captain Brittany McNeil kept the team focused and lead a fantastic finish to a first half.

With another half to go, a second wind of energy was needed and subs were placed on the field to fill the roles of the exhausted players. Eagles bench members and field players were brought to a uproar when Marissa Dionne hit the top corner, missing the clear net by a fraction of an inch.

Pressure from the Timberwolves lead to a corner to the left of freshman Goalkeeper Melina Gomez, with six offensive players aligned amongst the 6-yard box. A perfect in curve corner by UNBC, but an even more perfect save by Gomez, redirecting the ball over all six players to the other side of the goal mouth.

With quick passing and placement of the ball, Gomez made an enormous save again, keeping Kwantlen’s 1-0 lead. The save lead to a much needed wakeup call, and the Eagles quickly pushed the ball down the field to a through-ball by Tiffany O’Krane to Shanay Sangha in the 16th minute of the second half.

A fast paced second half, a full 100 per cent commitment to take the lead of 2-0 with just under half an hour on the clock.

The Kwantlen Eagles now played a strong defensive game to prevent goals against them, and gave Gomez a second straight shut-out in her Freshman showcase in the BCCAA League.

With the clock running short, the UNBC team picked up its intensity along the Kwantlen sidelines.

The game slowly coming to a close, Kwantlen played their defence in the offensive zone, toying with the UNBC’s goalie and defensive line. Meghan Nillson got the last word of the game with a fantastic free kick to the corner, sending Dionne on one last scramble into the 18-yard box for a last shot, wide of goal to close the deal.

With the sun in the sky, the Kwantlen women’s soccer team had won its second consecutive 2-0 win over the UNBC Timberwolves. With unbelivable saves in goal and with distribution of talent all over the field, the quality of play between the two games had drastically improved.The Eagles are well on their way to defend their Provincial title, and each game is only going to get more intriguing.