Another split of two weekend games has left the Kwantlen Polytechnic University Eagles women’s soccer team in the middle of the pack in Group A of the PacWest league standings.
After a 2-0 loss to the Capilano Blues on Saturday, the Eagles bounced back in Nanaimo Sunday with a 5-0 win over the Vancouver Island Mariners.
The Eagles led 4-0 before half time, with Shanay Sangha netting a pair of goals and Kathleen Gratz and Yvamara Rodriguez adding one each. Meghan Nilsson of Surrey headed home the fifth Kwantlen goal in the second half.
“The team played with a lot more intensity, urgency and purpose (against the Mariners),” said Eagles head coach Gord Smith. “Having Melina (Gomez) back in goal for the first time this season allowed us to play Nicole (Gibbons) at her natural position at left back. This made us a much deeper and complete team.”
The women finished the second week of the season with a 2-0-2 (won-tied-lost) record, and are in third place in the five-team Group A. The Langara Falcons and Quest Kermodes are tied for top spot, having won both games played this season. On the men’s side, the Eagles lost 4-0 to the Blues Saturday, but held the defending national champion Mariners to a 2-2 draw Sunday.
Ravij Ahmadi scored on a penalty for Kwantlen to tie the game 1-1. Vancouver Island regained the lead, before Ahmadi netted his second of the game with 15 minutes to play.
“I’m really proud of our guys,” said assistant coach Yaw Osei. “We showed them (Mariners) that we deserved to be on the same field, and to tie the defending national champions was a great result.”
Both Kwantlen teams are at home next weekend at Newton Athletic Park, hosting Quest on Saturday, and Langara on Sunday. Women’s games kickoff both days at noon, with the men contests to follow at 2 p.m.