Charlie's Angles

Two weekends of play resulted in two weekend splits for the Mariners as VIU defeated Douglas College but fell to Capilano University after a 1-1 weekend versus Langara College.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 14: VIU 2 - Douglas 1
Cunnings Field - Town Centre Park, Coquitlam, B.C.

In VIU's first road game of the season, the Mariners downed the defending CCAA champion Royals 2-1.

The game was on the verge of heading scoreless to the half-time break until a late VIU rush put the Mariners up. A fantastic long ball from Josh Rayner sent the attack up the left wing. A winger cross was met by Kenneth Jolliffe who, running at full speed, deftly tapped the ball back to the left across his body instead of shooting with his momentum to the right. The goalkeeper had no chance on the play and the Mariners took the advantage to the locker room.

VIU's second goal resulted from excellent up-field pressure from the Mariners forwards on the Royals defense. After a short Royals corner kick, Jolliffee and Charlie Smith ran at the Douglas goalkeeper and defenders. The ball popped off a Royals defender's foot and Jolliffe make a quick pass to a wide-open Smith. He made no mistake to earn his second goal of the season and his first game-winning goal as a Mariner.

The Royals scored on a header with ten minutes to play to spoil VIU goalkeeper Cody Carter's shutout bid, but Carter and the Mariners backline held firm as the Royals sent in plenty of long balls over the final stretch. Carter earned his second win of the season.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 15: Capilano 2 - VIU 1
Lillooet Park, North Vancouver, B.C.
Box Score

The Mariners went down 2-0 in the first ten minutes of the game and fell 2-1 to the Capilano Blues. A late second-half push--including a man advantage and a penalty kick--wasn't enough to earn a tying goal.

Midfielder Marshall Dadzie protects the ball from a Capilano opponent. Photo: Brent Mutis / Capilano University

Early goals from Capilano's Jeremy Monn-Djasngar and Sebastian Cirotto suggested that the Blues might run away with the game, but the Mariners settled down and battled the Blues evenly the rest of the way. VIU got on the board early in the second half when Charlie Smith surprised the Blues keeper with a near-post header off a cross from Dani MacAskill. However, his third goal of the season was the only offense for the Mariners on the day as Blues goalkeeper Brandon Leece saved a VIU penalty kick on the way to a Capilano win.

Goalkeeper Cody Carter made 4 saves on 6 shots on target.

Up Next

The Mariners (2 W, 2 L) head back to North Vancouver for a rematch with the conference-leading Blues (3 W, 1 L) on Saturday, September 21. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. Lillooet Park. The next day, VIU faces off against the Langara Falcons (2 W, 2 L) for the third time this season. Game time is 2:30 p.m. at Willoughby Community Park at the Langley Events Centre. 

Visit the PACWEST website for the season schedule and webstream links.

For more information, contact Matt Carter, VIU Mariners Communications & Sports Information Coordinator.