Momentum is only what you make of it – just ask the Toronto Blue Jays.
While October has been a smashing success for the Douglas College Royals women’s soccer team, nothing will matter if that success doesn’t translate into a berth into the PacWest provincial championship final at Burnaby Lake West complex this weekend.
“I think everyone’s anxious, that’s a good word for it,” remarked Royals coach Chris Laxton. “We’ve had a good run (in October) but we’re eager to get (the playoffs) going.”
As the regular season champions, and defending B.C. champs, Douglas faces No. 4 Capilano Blues on Friday in a key showdown, with a 12:30 p.m. kickoff.
While the New Westminster-based squad has reeled off six straight victories – after opening the season 1-2-2 in September – what matters is winning Friday’s contest.
B.C. will be sending two teams to next month’s Canadian Colleges Athletic Association championships in Montreal, so a berth into the final ticks off the biggest ‘get’ of the year.
That they’ve been on such a run and have excelled to the tune of 7-2-3 this year has been a bit of a surprise for Laxton.
“I didn’t think we’d finish first, not with the turnover we experienced from last year,” he noted. “In September we didn’t start the way we would have liked, but a few of those we probably deserved a better fate.”
Against Capilano, the Royals are 2-1-0, with the lone blemish a 1-1 tie six weeks ago.
Their most recent encounter came last Sunday in a game that meant little to either team, as both were locked into their positions.
Douglas trailed much of the game but turned the tables with a strong push in the second half to prevail 4-3, bolstered by a hat trick from first-year forward Samantha Frketich.
“She scored the winning goal with a good run, beat the defender and just chipped the ball past (Cap’s) goalie with about 10 minutes to play,” said Laxton. “The true character of the team came through to get that one.”
Last year’s march to the nationals relied a lot on veterans, including two-time PacWest MVP Marni McMillan. With those players moving on, others have stepped in and filled the void, including captains Sam Kell and Michelle Wessa, league scoring champion Andrea Perrotta, runner-up Mikayla Hamilton, and netminder Alexa Gazzola.
Gazzola, as a first-year Royal, has taken on the key role as ball stopper and led the PacWest with a 0.57 goals against average and four shutouts.
“I’ve known her forever and coached her on four teams,” said Laxton. “She’s grown tremendously and adjusted to the pressure every step of the way. Alexa has the trust of everyone on this team.”
A win would catapult Douglas into Saturday’s championship game, 5 p.m. against either Vancouver Island or Langara, at Burnaby Lakes.
The men’s provincials is also at Burnaby Lakes, with No. 3 Douglas taking on No. 2 Vancouver Island, Friday at 3 p.m. The championship final goes Saturday at 8 p.m.
