Mens Soccer: Eagles walk away with a loss and a tie

By Dominic Sramaty [Contributor]

Saturday’s Game:

The Kwantlen Eagles came into the weekend losing their last six games and were looking to prove to themselves that they could win in this league.

On a soaked Saturday morning the men headed to the island to play the tough Vancouver Island University’s Mariners.

The game began in favour of the Mariners who, according to the Coach, were specialists in set pieces.

Within the first five minutes, VIU was able to draw three corner kicks.

The Eagles were relentless, turning away the first two, before – on the third – VIU got off a laser shot from the left corner of the 18-yard-box into the top right corner past a sprawling Amraj Lally.

Not three minutes later the Mariners number seven took a hard shot from 30 yards out that went just wide of the net.

The Eagles first scoring chance of the game came in the 14th minute when Cody Dunn’s free kick found the head of Luke Rimmer and into the goalie’s hands.

The feisty Eagles were doing everything they could to hold off the potent offence of the Mariners who were shooting the lot on Saturday. For a while it looked as if Kwantlen could hold off the 1-0 loss till half time.

Unfortunately, in the 39th minute VIU’s number 5 crossed the ball into a waiting 15 who shot off the post, off Lally and into the net. In the 43rd, 15 took a great shot from outside the 18 but it was no match for Lally who made the great diving save.

The half ended on another unfortunate bounce that made its way to 15 for the header goal.

Kwantlen came out re-energized in the second half gaining the majority of scoring opportunities lead by the rambunctious Jacob “Big Cat” Starheim.

Mid-half, number 19 from VIU shot on net off a break and the save off Lally went straight to 15 whose shot was saved by the diving keeper.

In the 83rd minute Big Cat nutmegged a defender and crossed the ball to a wide open Ryan Sidhu who back heel volleyed towards the open net. Had the diving keeper not made the miraculous save the shot would have surely gone in.

3-0 mariners.

Sunday’s Game:

Sunday rolled around and the Eagles were hungry for that first win against a team they knew they could beat. Quest.

The weather didn’t look like it would cooperate but in the end the game started on a beautiful sunny day with the vibrant Squamish hills as the back drop. Quest caught Kwantlen off guard early getting a shot off in the 3rd minute.

However, Kwantlen would resist and respond when in the 9th and 11th minutes Jethro Kambere made a good run in to the box but shot wide. Kevin Coles also had a shot on net shortly afterwards.

Mid-half, Quest Captain Ben MacGregor took a shot from outside the 18 yard box that was beautifully saved by Amraj Lally. Lally wouldn’t be as lucky the second time around as MacGregor capitalized on a pristine scoring opportunity in the 18. Goal Quest.

That seemed to infuse the Eagles as they got off two more scoring opportunities before the half was over.

In the 68th minute Quest’s Maweuna Mallett put in a lead pass to a breaking Ryan Gobert who had only the keeper to beat. Lally made the save.

Then, finally in the 70th minute Jacob Starheim ran down the right wing nutmegging one Quest player and then dancing through two more on his way towards the net.

There was nothing but sweet air and the keeper between him and the goal. Starheim scored to put the Eagles up 2-1.

Little did he know he had injured two Quest players on the play, including their captain whose season is done after a serious ankle injury.

It looked as if the Eagles would win their first game. However, in the 88th minute, the referee called a questionable foul outside Kwantlen’s 18 yard box. Quest had drawn up a set play for just this event that included five illegal picks. Unfortunately, the inexperienced ref did not realize it was against rules. The free kick cross came to a wide open Jared Bir who popped in a shot past Lally.

The game was over 2-2.

Although the boys were disappointed in the tie there are many positives to be taken from the weekends proceedings.  “The wins will come,” said Ajit Braich, “if we play like this.”