Chalk it up to the rivalry.
No matter where they meet, it seems Douglas College and Vancouver Island University are always locked in a heated battle, especially when framed on the soccer pitch.
It was no different this weekend, as the women’s teams split a pair of games in Nanaimo. Douglas took the first game 3-2, before bowing 1-0 in the followup a day later.
The Royals, defending provincial champions and hosts for the 2018 national tournament, didn’t let the Island home advantage wear on them in Saturday’s opener. And while they surrendered the opening tally, the visitors showed a flare for a quick comeback en route to their second win of the season.
“We didn’t get too caught up in the score and we came back quickly each time,” remarked Douglas coach Chris Laxton.
Down 1-0 just 12 minutes into the contest, Douglas tied it on Taylor Wettig tally at the 26-minute mark. A minute later, Sofia Flores-Aguilera gave the Royals their first lead by capitalizing on a Mariners miscue.
Five minutes into the second half, Vancouver Island drew even on Malorie Hanson’s tally.
But once again, a quick reply changed the game. This time, just three minutes after Hanson’s tying goal, league scoring leader Mikayla Hamilton put the Royals up for good.
Both goalkeepers – Douglas’ Alexa Gazzola and VIU’s Melanie Osborne – finished with six saves on the day.
Hamilton’s marker was a nice strike that highlighted her growth as a finisher, Laxton said.
“(Hamilton) has shown a lot of composure and focused on the technique, rather than just putting balls at the net.”
In Sunday’s rematch, the teams battled through a scoreless first half before Dawson netted the lone goal of the game three minutes into the second frame in the Mariners’ 1-0 win.
The Royals ramped up the offence over the second half, especially after they fell behind, but couldn’t put anything past Osborne.
“It was pretty much a stalemate, but VIU came out better defensively and took away the chances we were getting (in the first game),” remarked the coach. “(Dawson’s) shot was a very good shot but it was a bad giveaway from us. We’ll learn from that.”
He noted that with the knowledge that the squad will have a place at the Canadian national championship table as host, he's been able to broaden his lineup and test players in different roles. One newcomer who has impressed is St. Thomas More grad MIkaela Montagano, a first-year midfielder.
"She's been very good, she's playing well against tough assignments," said Laxton. "She played 180 minutes and was was very strong."
Being the defending champions means every match up, including this weekend against winless Capilano, will have other squads at their best trying to knock off the defending provincial champions.
"We're now the hunted," he said. "We get everyone's best. It's good in that we have to be prepared and ready, and we need to be ready to come out quicker."
Douglas, first overall at 2-1-1, hosts Capilano University on Saturday, 1 p.m. at Coquitlam Town Centre, then head to Capilano on Sunday.
