Tied up in Capilano
After a long opening week of soccer, both the men’s and women’s soccer team enjoyed a lengthy eight day break before jumping back into the thick of the season. Greeting them upon re-entry was none other than the Capilano Blues.
By Davie Wong
After a long opening week of soccer, both the men's and women's soccer team enjoyed a lengthy eight day break before jumping back into the thick of the season. Greeting them upon re-entry was none other than the Capilano Blues.
For the men, it was a chance to prove themselves against national level competition. With the Blues coming into the season red hot, and undefeated in three games, the Royals knew they had a mountain to climb. Perhaps that's what coaches Robby and Paul had the men do during their days off, because when the team got into the game, they looked like mountain climbing pros.
Mikey Dhillon got the Royals started with a gorgeous free kick that sailed straight into the net leaving the Blues stunned. Of course, no one on the Royals was surprised he scored like that.
However, a stunned team is still a dangerous one if not put out of commission quickly. The Blues proved that to be true. The ensuing play saw them dive deep into the Royals half and finish off the play with the ball in the Royals net. All of the sudden, the game was tied, but now the teams had really gotten started.
It was a fight of tooth and nail right til the end. Both Capilano and Douglas would each add another goal in the second half but neither team really got an edge on the other. Royals rookie forward Race Williams would score his first goal of his PACWEST career off a wonderful cross from captain Anthony McCullough in the second half, but that would be the only real highlight for the visiting team as both sides ended up cancelling out each other's play in a fantastic show of skill and game.
The end result made for a fantastic finish as both teams fought valiantly for the win but neither side conceded it. The final score saw the Royals end the Blues' win streak at three and take a point off of the defending national silver medalists.
The women also had their hands full dealing with the Blues. Both sides were so equally matched to start the game that neither side gave up a goal going into the halftime. Each side had their own chances, but neither of them converted on them.
That changed immediately after half time. The Royals got their feet wet with a wonderful strike from Mikayla Hamilton that put her team in the lead. However, the lead was not fated to last. On the very next possession, the Blues struck back with a goal of their own.
The next 45 minutes would provide entertaining soccer if nothing else, but neither team would find a way to convert again in the half. They traded chances back and forth, but neither team could find a gap to put a shot too close to the goal. At the end of 90, the score was all tied up at one a piece.
Although both teams came into Sunday's game looking for wins, there is no doubt that a tie is something that they can settle with. The men got their chance at showing the Canadian stage that they can compete with the CCAA's best teams. They end the week tied for second place with the VIU Mariners, who hold an identical record of two wins, one loss, and one tie. The only team above them is the Blues who sit at the top of the table with 10 points for three wins and one tie.
Meanwhile, the women took a point of the Blues, which brings the two teams even closer in the standings, with only a single point separating them. They end the week in third place with one win, one loss, and two ties for a total of five points. They sit beneath the Blues who hold six points off of one win and three ties, and above VIU who end the week with four ties.
