Bellingham, WA…..The KPU Eagles (PACWEST, CCAA) women’s soccer team picked up their first win of the 2014 exhibition pre-season as they defeated the Peninsula College Pirates (NWAC) 3-2, improving their record to 1-1 on Monday, August 18.
The Eagles had a rough start in the first of three 30-minute periods with the Pirates taking an early 2-0 lead that was sustained until the third. Head Coach Julie King was pleased with the game’s end result but saw the first period as a valuable lesson for the team. “We had a quick two goals against us early on, which was a wake-up call for the ladies,” she stated, “But we were able to regroup and implement some of the things we have been working on in practice”.
The Eagles travelled without a few key returners, which allowed some of the newer recruits to get time on the field. Coach King notes the value in this exercise. “The ladies did a really good job against the Pirates and we have players now fighting for a starting position, “she says, “It was great to see some of our players have a revolution over the past few weeks and listen to specific instruction in order to grow.”
The backline showed strength led by third-year defender Jessica Anderegg, Surrey, BC and first-year defender Pamela Scowby, Port Coquitlam, BC. Credit for the natural hat trick, with all goals occurring in the third period, goes to second-year forward Megan Talaber, North Delta, BC.
“Megan came alive, she’s got confidence which is something a forward needs,” Coach King stated, “She’s trying new things on the pitch now and we want her to keep going.”
The next stop for the Eagles is the long-awaited road trip to Edmonton, Alberta to take on other CCAA schools in the ACAC and one school new to the CIS and Canada West. On the schedule are pre-season exhibition matches against the NAIT Ooks (ACAC, CCAA), the MacEwan Griffins (Canada West, CIS), and the University of Alberta Augustana Vikings (ACAC, CCAA).
Both KPU Eagles soccer programs kick off the 2014/15 PACWEST CCAA regular season with a home-opener at Newton Athletic Park on Wednesday, September 3rd; the women’s game begins at 5:00pm and the men’s game begins at 7:00pm.
For more information on the Department of Athletics & Recreation, please contact Junelle Mah, sports information and marketing, at 604-786-0804 or at junelle.mah@kpu.ca.
The KPU Eagles Department of Athletics & Recreation enters its 14th season of interuniversity competition. The Eagles are members of the PACWEST conference and play in the Canadian College Athletic Association (CCAA) with 100 student-athletes participating on eight varsity teams in men’s and women’s basketball, soccer, badminton and golf. KPU athletics plays its home games at the Eagles’ Nest (Surrey Campus), Northview Golf & Country Club, Newton Athletic Park, all located in Surrey, BC and the Ace Badminton Centre in Richmond, BC. The Eagles are active in the conference with staff members on various advisory committees and competing to host both provincial and national championships. The student-athletes are mainly from the lower mainland but KPU’s rosters have included student-athletes from North America, South America, Asia and Europe.
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