Men's Sunday Soccer Rewind

Sunday showed just how competitive the PACWEST Conference is with both games being decided by just a single goal. 

Langara Falcons 2 – VIU Mariners 1

This was a very well-played game between two very competitive programs that found the scoreboard early.

The Mariners struck first after being awarded a corner kick in the sixth minute.  Instead of shooting the kick towards the net, the Mariners offered a short pass to one of their forwards who lifted the ball towards the net on a brilliant attacking ball that James Upshaw put his head on and guided it passed the keeper into the back of the net.

Just six minutes later the Falcons would even the score after stealing a throw in. The home side applied pressure to tap the ball away from the Mariners before sending a pass forward to Maslah Farah, who promptly redirected the pass to a streaking David Rodriguez Zegarra getting through the backline and unleashed a strong shot with this left foot that beat the diving keeper to get the Falcons on the board.

The teams went into halftime notched at one.

In the 49^th minute Falcons’ forward Cobe Monte beat the Mariners defender, getting into the 18-yard box and was hauled down for a penalty kick.  Monte looked a little worse for wear so Rodriguez Zegarra stepped up to take the PK and blasted a shot into the back of the net for his second of the contest and a goal that would turn out to be the game winner.

Capilano Blues 1 – Douglas Royals 0

This game was wet.  The Royals celebrated their home opener in the rain in Coquitlam and hosted the Blues. 

Offence was hard to come by with no scoring in the first half and the majority of the second.  It wasn’t until the 89^th minute after a Royals’ turnover that the Blues took advantage.  The midfielder sent a ball towards Sebastian Cirotto that first deflected off a Royals defender before Cirotto controlled it, avoiding a second defender in the process before carrying into the 18-yard box.  He uncorked a low shot, just passed the sliding Royals keeper and into the back of the net for his fourth of the season and second game winner.

Keeper Graydon Sherle was outstanding, stopping every shot directed his way to earn the clean sheet for the Blues.