The Rolling Stones’ Mick Jagger sang it, but the Douglas College Royals lived it on Saturday.
The women’s soccer team didn’t get what it wanted but ended up with what they needed after falling 1-0 to the Vancouver Island University Mariners in the PacWest championship final in Burnaby.
As defending champions, the Royals were adamant in driving for that repeat crown, but the end goal was to earn a berth to the national championships in Montreal, which begin next week.
By topping the Capilano Blues 2-1 in overtime on Friday, Douglas secured a guaranteed spot – and while the wildcard berth wasn’t their choice, it was an opening they will gladly take.
Taylor Wettig’s marker in extra time stood up as the semifinal winner. It proved to be the team’s last goal of the tournament.
“We pushed so hard… We never gave up and pushed right to the end,” said Royals co-captain Samantha Kell. “I think that was the best way to lose a final.
“Next if we get (VIU) at nationals it’ll be different.”
The Mariners’ Madeline Dawson supplied the game’s only goal in the 29th minute, as the two teams played a close-to-the-chest battle.
While Douglas’ best chance may have come midway through the second half, on a free kick from Andrea Perrotta, which sailed just above the crossbar, they didn’t relinquish anything until the final whistle.
“We were unable to connect as we did the last time we played them,” remarked coach Chris Laxton, referencing a 3-0 win two weeks earlier. “We’ll work on that. We’ve got game-changers who were just unable to do it (Saturday). We’ll be great going to nationals.”
Last year, the provincial title launched them into the national semifinal and an eventual fourth-place finish.
That experience gives those returnees a reference point – although Douglas’ roster is nearly split even among returnees and first-year freshmen.
For co-captain Michelle Wessa, the nationals will provide a real test of adjustment for everyone. But going in as underdogs won’t deter them from their goal.
“It’s really exhausting and the new girls are going to have a little wake-up call,” said the fourth-year defender. “I think we’re taking the precautions to help us avoid that but its definitely exhausting.”
The coach said that the new players will help buffer the club from over-hyping the challenge ahead.
“They are young and naive. The last group we had all they wanted to do was get to nationals. Now all they expect to do is get to nationals,” said Laxton. “We’re not there to make up the numbers, we’re there to win, but I think it will be a great experience because a lot of these players are so young.”
For Wessa, as devastating as the loss was, the fact that there is a chance for redemption is more than enough motivation.
“That’s the thing. It’s a loss, but we still have the rest of our season so we can still work at being better and capitalize on the chances we have at nationals. If we have a chance at meeting (VIU) in the semifinals or finals we know we can beat them there," said Wessa.
Kell agreed.
"“We beat them before, we’ll bounce back. We’ll do it again at nationals if we meet. We’ve got bigger fish to fry."
Both Kell and Wessa were named to the PacWest All-Star team.
The nationals start Nov. 9 when seventh-seeded Douglas faces No. 2-ranked Northern Alberta Ooks.
* The Douglas College men’s soccer team climbed the charts and finished second at the PacWest nationals on Saturday.
Although they fell 4-2 to the Capilano Blues in the final, the squad will venture to Fort McMurray, Alta., as the sixth seed in the eight-team CCAA national championships.
Trailing 3-0 after just 30 minutes, the No. 3-seed Royals put it into overdrive and closed the gap in the second half on tallies by Devon Jones and Rajan Purewal. The Blues iced it with a late goal.
A 3-2 victory over Vancouver Island in penalty kicks, with Juggy Bassi supplying the decisive strike, earned Douglas College the berth into the final.
