Vancouver, BC…..The KPU Eagles women’s soccer team split their road games this weekend, as they lost yesterday’s match to the Douglas College Royals 1-0 in Coquitlam, BC, and then rallied 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 4-4-5 going into the final weekend of regular season play as they continue to chase down a ticket to PACWEST Provincials October 24-26th at Quest University in Squamish, BC.
Yesterday’s loss to the Royals saw a scoreless first half and a quick Douglas goal off a rebound early in the second by third-year forward Danae Harding, Port Moody, BC. The Eagles have struggled to gain offensive ground this season but have had success with strong goalkeepers and defenders.
“We made a big mistake in the second half against the Royals. As a result they scored a goal and we couldn’t finish yesterday,” said Assistant Coach Joan McEachern, “We are trying to make the playoffs, there has to be more of an effort to get there and even more of an effort when we do get there.”
Today’s victory over the Eagles was a hard-fought battle that had both sides of the pitch taking chances and shooting on net. The dynamic defensive duo of third-year Jessica Anderegg, Surrey, BC and first-year Pamela Scowby, Surrey, BC were back in action against the Falcons, alongside third-year Amanda Dodds, Surrey, BC. First-year midfielders Chloe Bottrell, Langley, BC and Hayley Eburne, Surrey, BC, along with first-year forward, Lexie (Alexandria) Gillette, Chilliwack, BC put offensive pressure on the Falcons with great control of the ball and creating momentum up front. First-year goalkeeper Simran Meelu, Abbotsford, BC made key breakaway saves in the first half, as did Anderegg minutes into the game when she denied Langara an open-net opportunity with a swift sliding block. In the 20th minute second-year Falcons midfielder Natalie Long beat Meelu, but the Eagles were quick to strike back. Gillette, Chilliwack, BC, made a great cross to second-year forward Megan Talaber, Delta, BC. Talaber found the back of the net and put KPU on the board in the 27th minute.
The second half was a nail-biter as both teams made several attempts on net. In the 76th minute on a breakaway Gillette caught the Falcons goalkeeper out of position and made a careful play to give the Eagles the solidifying second goal. A late direct shot for Langara with minutes to go created a final test for KPU, but the Eagles worked hard to limit that last opportunity for the Falcons to walk away with their much-needed win towards a post-season berth. Leaders for the Eagles this weekend included Meelu, for all 90 minutes of both games, as well as fifth-year defender Norma Sheane, Burnaby, BC.
“We are still in a playoff race, we haven’t clinched and it will come down to the last weekend,” McEachern stated, “We needed to win this game today, and with the effort we put forward all 90 minutes it was a well-deserved win.”
Join the KPU Eagles women’s soccer team at 12:00pm this Saturday, October 18th at home at Newton Athletic Park in Surrey, BC to honour two Eagles in their final year with the program. Sheane, and Kathlin Trudeau, Surrey, BC have made tremendous contributions to KPU Eagles women’s soccer so come out and wish them the best in their final homestand! The Eagles will head to Nanaimo, BC on Sunday, October 19th for the final game of the regular season against the VIU Mariners with a 12:00pm 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.