Vancouver, BC…..The KPU Eagles men’s soccer team lost yesterday’s match to the Douglas College Royals 2-1 and rose to defeat the Langara College Falcons 2-1 today at UBC Varsity Field in Vancouver, BC. The Eagles 2014/15 PACWEST CCAA record is now 5-5-3 with only two matches remaining in the regular season. Every win counts for KPU in order to secure a playoff spot in PACWEST Provincials October 24-26th at Quest University in Squamish, BC.
The Eagles were the first to strike yesterday against the Royals in the second half. The Eagles were awarded a penalty kick in the 63rd minute after a foul in the box, which allowed fifth-year KPU midfielder Jacob Starheim, Delta, BC a successful shot for a 1-0 lead. A Royals direct shot by first-year forward Spencer Deboice, Surrey, BC at the 75th minute beat first-year Eagles goalkeeper David Hicks, Surrey, BC for the tie. In extra minutes a header by Douglas second-year forward Nicholas Pineda Graham would give the Royals the 2-1 win. Hicks played all 90 minutes in net for KPU.
“Overall it was a great team effort, it would be hard to pick out one or two players alone. We did well with the number of players we were missing. We have to focus on the next game, we have players coming back and we are in good shape,” commented Eagles Assistant Coach Aleksandar Borojevic, “We have great character, our guys play for the team and for each other. We need to raise them for the game tomorrow, as it is an important opportunity and a win will help us to reach the playoffs.”
Today’s match against Langara saw two very determined teams battling for ground. Again, KPU made their mark first as a rebound off Langara found the foot of third year Eagle midfielder Anthony McCullough, Richmond, BC who drilled it into the back of the net in the 35th minute. A direct shot for the Falcons by first-year midfielder Dillon Penman, Burnaby, BC tied the match 1-1 minutes away from halftime.
The second half saw both teams struggle to make offensive headway until the 76th minute. A scramble in front of the Langara net gave third-year KPU forward Dalton San, Surrey, BC a clear shot to send the ball out of reach of the Falcons goalkeeper. KPU battled hard for the remaining minutes and came out with the 2-1 victory. .Standouts for KPU today included McCullough, fifth-year defender Lucas Rimmer, Surrey, BC, Nawaf Binsaleh, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, and first-year forward Justin Turner-Pearce, Richmond, BC. Eagles second-year goalkeeper Ashbir Paul, Richmond, BC, made multiple saves and great shots in his 90 minutes in net.
“Great win today and a great team performance to battle back after heartbreak yesterday,” stated Eagles Head Coach Srdjan Djekanovic, “Everyone was ready and focused today, the guys came out and left it all out on the field. We played well, defended well, and I’m very proud of them this weekend, it was well done.”
Join the KPU Eagles men’s soccer team at 2:00pm this Saturday, October 18th at home at Newton Athletic Park in Surrey, BC. The Eagles will honour graduating seniors Marcos Teodoro da Silva, Caico, RN, Brazil, Rimmer, and Starheim in their final regular season home game of their university careers. KPU heads to the Island on Sunday, October 19th for the final game of the regular season against the VIU Mariners in Nanaimo, BC, with a 2:00pm kick-off.
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 Collegiate 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.
Follow the Eagles on Twitter @KPU Eagles, on Facebook www.facebook.com/KPUEagles, or on our website www.kpu.ca/eagles.