Varsity Soccer: Women soar while men struggle in the nest

Women’s Soccer

[By Chelsea Jewell]

After a string of wins, Kwantlen Women’s Soccer was ready to take on two top rival teams, Thompson Rivers University Wolfpack and the University of British Columbia-Okanagan on home turf last weekend.

Game one was a quick start with an utterly fantastic first half for the Kwantlen Eagles. With quick pressure up front by Kathleen Gratz, Shanay Sangha and Christina Henderson, TRU was put on their heels from the get go. With a few fumbles in the net a goal seemed close by and a penalty kick was an obvious choice to award once the TRU goalkeeper struck down Henderson on a dirty play to protect an empty net, but no call from the referee. Tensions rose and both teams upped their aggressiveness and prepared for the rest of the half.

With approximately five minutes in the half, Gratz, a well known forward amongst the league of freshmen, scored her second goal in three games. Kwantlen left the first half with a great finish, with TRU’s bench sitting quite angered and a little less enthusiastic.

The second half led to a firm start by the Eagles and the ball kept rolling. Goalkeeper Melina Gomez made some significant saves to maintain her third zero in a row. A well organized midfield played by Meghan Nillson and Tara Mackrigiannis, a strong defensive line and a rock solid keeper, Kwantlen claimed their third straight win, their third straight shut out and were one step closer to surpassing last year’s overwhelming success.

Sunday afternoon, under the spitting rain, UBCO Heat quickly brought exactly that to the Kwantlen field. The Eagles remained strong in the midfield and quick paced up front. Kwantlen forwards Dominique Lang and Kathleen Gratz had an unbelievable work ethic, as well as amazing sideline saves by Christina Henderson on the right wing. First half concluded with a 0-0, and the pick up from spitting rain to pouring rain.

Evenly matched, within the midfield and forward lines, both defensive lines allowed no cracks and no real shots at either keeper, maintaining shutouts so far both ways. Until the 85th minute, a crazed scramble in the 18 yard-box left defensive line and goalie Melina Gomez quick on their feet. Melina making a first and second save, forward

Lang making a striking splits save across the line and then one crack at it by UBCO, finally forcing the ball into Kwantlen’s net.

With a hard loss, the Kwantlen Eagles now drop to second in the nation. With this statistic, there is more to fight for, and the best of the Eagles has yet to come.

Men’s soccer

By Dominic Sramaty
[sports bureau chief]

The Kwantlen Eagles had a disappointing weekend matching up against the Thompson Rivers Wolf Pack and University of British Columbia Okanagan Heat.

The Eagles came into Saturdays game with plenty of optimism after a long week of hard work. Coach Ajit was feeling confident that the boys could come away with some points from the weekend affair.

The Wolf Pack were quick on the offensive scoring in the 8th minute. Justin Wallace, 17, put a perfect through ball into Jean-Marc Mancion, 20, who had only the keeper to beat and scored. The Eagles first chance came off Jethro Kambere cross to Malcom Sheepwash in the 18th minute.

TRU brought strong offensive pressure getting four shots on net before Kyle Fertile managed to score in 26th minute.

The Eagles gave it their best effort but they could notget past the strong Wolf Pack defensive line. In the 80th minute the Wolf Pack put the last nail in the coffin with a goal from Noftal.

The Eagles came out Sunday looking for redemption. However the home stand did not turn around for the bald birds. Kwantlen showed good pace earlier blocking off all four Heat attacks.

Vickey Parhar made a glorious run down the centre of the field drawing a foul just above the 18 yard box.

UBCO’s number 14 recovered the ball and scored the opening goal.

The goal did not steal the Eagles’ spirits.

They continued playing with a large amount of offensive pressure firing off the next four shots.

In the 78th UBCO scored it’s final goal by number 24. The Eagles are going into the week knowing what they need to do to get better.

The players are definitely starting to feel the pressures of being an 0-0-4 team.