Mariners Ground the Falcons: Will Play for PACWEST Gold
One goal and many big saves key a semifinal win over Langara
COQUITLAM, B.C. – A hard-fought semifinal playoff battle between two evenly matched teams ended up in favour of the third-ranked VIU Mariners, as Hector Valdez's first-half goal paced VIU to a 1-0 win over the #2-ranked Langara Falcons.
The Mariners move onto the PACWEST gold medal game versus the top-ranked Douglas Royals (3:00 PM, Sunday, October 31st) while the Falcons are finished for the season. The winner of the PACWEST championship will also represent the conference at the CCAA National Men's Soccer Championship, November 10-13 at SAIT in Calgary.
Both teams had sustained moments of pressure in the first half. For VIU, Hector Valdez had a close chance just after 20 minutes had passed, and Taylor Arbour turned and fired a shot just outside the left post in the 31st minute.
The Mariners sent a few long balls down the middle in the first half, targeting Valdez, and it paid off in the 37th minute as he chipped a shot over the charging Falcons keeper while closely marked by two defenders.
A few nice saves by both Mariners 'keeper Ben Chamberlin and Falcons 'keeper Aleks Kalajdzic in the last five minutes of the first half kept the score at 1-0 in VIU's favour.
The Falcons put on sustained pressure throughout the second half. They thought they had equalized off of a free kick in the 59th minute, but the goal was nullified by the referee.
Chamberlin—who made a trio of highlight-reel saves between minutes 75-81 as part of his eight saves on the day—and the VIU defence held tough for the rest of the game, including a number of long clears in the final five minutes of injury time.
Valdez was named Player of the Game for VIU, while Henrique Claros earned POTG for the Falcons.
UP NEXT
Will there be tricks or treats on Halloween? The Mariners go up against the Douglas Royals (#1 PACWEST, #2 CCAA) for PACWEST gold on October 31st and for the opportunity to move on to the CCAA National Men's Soccer Championships. Kickoff is 3:00 PM at Cunnings Field in Coquitlam. The game can be watched live on PACWEST.TV.