There’s nothing like a couple of polished performances to erase a no-show.
The New Westminster Hyacks improved to 4-1-0 and reclaimed first place with a pair of victories over the previously-unbeaten Alpha Aztecs in the past week.
While filling a roster cost them their lone loss last week – forfeiting their original match against Burnaby Mountain on April 17 – it was touch-and-go for both teams in both contests, as both teams scrambled to fill out a full roster in New West’s 5-1 win last Friday, and Tuesday’s 3-1 decision.
The most recent triumph was a case of endurance, as both squads were one-player short but the Hyacks made the most of the extra space.
Grade 9 Emma Pollard gave the Royal City crew a quick lead, just two minutes into the contest, by converting Julianna Kemppi’s corner kick. Pollard counted her second of the day eight minutes into the second half, finishing off a nice give-and-go between Taylor Spong and Kemppi.
Alpha had more than a few opportunities, but were deftly handled by Julianna Ritson, making her season debut between the posts.
The Grade 11 keeper got strong support from centre backs Sarah Forgie and Shianne Lowka and fullback sisters Madison and Sydney Fowler.
Although the Aztecs did close the gap in the second half, Spong completed the offence with a late marker, off a set-up from Gabrielle McCormick and Lee.
Last Friday, there were more players in uniform and also more goals on the board. New West again took control of the game early, forcing the Aztecs’ netminder to make several stops.
McCormick powered a one-timer into the net for the 1-0 lead, off a cross pass from Grade 10 Sydney Smith just 19 minutes into the contest.
A few minutes later the Hyacks lost a player and were out-manned by Alpha, but it didn’t affect the outcome. McCormick doubled the lead with her second of the day eight minutes later, thanks to some brilliant work from a law firm-like trio of Sonia Sarai, Forgie and Smith.
Before the first half came to a wrap, New West’s leading scorer Nisa Reehal counted her seventh of the season – in just her third game – on a 40-yard blast to the top shelf to make it 3-0.
Prior to the half, Grade 10 goalkeeper Alia Homenuke made a big save to maintain the Hyacks momentum, while defenders Emma Celle, Sydney Fowler and Sarah Gallant – all junior call-ups – did standout jobs at protecting the zone.
The offence kept coming in the second half, with Smith netting a goal of her own, followed by Ava Lee’s marker, off a rebound.
New West, who stand first overall in the Burnaby-New West league at 4-1-0, play Moscrop today (Thursday, 3:30 p.m. at Mercer).
