Regular Season Finale

A men's soccer Sunday recap.

Langara Falcons 1 – Capilano Blues 0

This game was back and forth as the Falcons and Blues played their final game of the regular season.  The Falcons had already earned a bye into the PACWEST gold medal game, but for the Blues they needed to win, tie or have the VIU Mariners lose to Douglas to advance. 

Both teams had their chances throughout the game however the backline and keepers were locked in.  Both Elijah Brown of the Falcons and Graydon Sherle of the Blues made six saves in the contest through the first 90+ minutes.  It wasn’t until extra time that the Falcons found paydirt.

A Falcons throw in from the left side resulted in four players trying to control the ball with a header inside the 18-yard box until it popped out at the top to Kazuki Nakanishi.  He played it off the fourth header, off his chest then unleased a terrific right footed shot just inside the left post for the game winning goal.

He sends his teammates into Sunday’s gold medal game with a victory as the Falcons will await the semifinal winner on Saturday.  Despite the loss the Blues qualify for the PACWEST championship tournament because the Mariners lost at Douglas and were eliminated.

Douglas Royals 4 – VIU Mariners 1

The Royals earned their 20^th point of the season with a lopsided victory over the visiting Mariners on Sunday afternoon thanks to three second half goals.  With the loss the Mariners are eliminated from postseason play.

In the 19^th minute the Royals opened the scoring when Keishean Francois carried the ball untouched into the 18-yard box down the right side almost to the crease before delivering a perfect crossing pass in front of the net to Andrew Kerr who just tapped it into the wide-open net.  Francois showing his very unselfish play after a Mariners backline break down left him all alone, one-on-one with the keeper.

The score remained the same until the 52^nd minute with Matteo Falcone would score the eventual game winner.  After Kerr stole a Mariners throw in inside their end, he led an odd man rush going the other way up the right side before a gorgeous pass into the top of the 18-yard box for Falcone who made one dribble, then blasted a left footed shot off the keeper’s leg and into the net for his third of the season.

In the 76^th minute Behard Hajimohammadi put the game out of reach.  The play started with Andrew Sardokie carrying the ball alone up the left side before feathering a pass into the middle of the 18-yard box that was redirected by Hajimohammadi into the net. 

With time ticking away on the season the Mariners finally got on the board in the 80th minute.  Maxwell Dadzie took a free kick and delivered a ball across the 18-yard box to Declan Brown who quickly unleased a shot into the back of the net for what would turn out to be the Mariners final goal of the year. 

Hajimohammadi re-established the Royals three goal lead in extra time and propelled the Royals into the postseason with a victory.  They will face the Capilano Blues this coming Saturday in a sudden death semifinal.