Preview: Opening Weekend

A Mariners squad with plenty of new faces kicks off 2025 against the Douglas Royals

VIU Mariners men's soccer
VIU's Liam Howe (center) controls the ball while striker Charlie Smith looks on in an exhibition scrimmage with Nanaimo United.
September 5, 2025

NANAIMO – After narrowly missing out on the PACWEST playoffs and losing key vets to graduation in 2024, the Mariners are aiming to establish a new identity in 2025. The new-look Mariners kick off the new season by hosting the Douglas Royals--the team that snuck by VIU to claim the final playoff spot in the final weekend of the 2024 season.

When & Where

  • Saturday, September 6 at Q'unq'inuqwstuxw Stadium at Nanaimo District Secondary School, 3 p.m.
  • Sunday, September 7 at Q'unq'inuqwstuxw Stadium, 3 p.m.

All VIU soccer games are free to attend. 

*There is considerable construction happening at Q'unq'inuqwstuxw Stadium until October. Fans are asked to park at the Nanaimo Ice Centre or Nanaimo Aquatic Centre. Access to the west side of the pitch, including the washrooms, is limited. Portable toilets by the east bleachers and bathrooms in the Aquatic Centre will be available.

Tune In

Home games will be streamed live on YouTube.

Coach's Comment

Head coach Kevin Lindo on his team's strengths: "Togetherness. A bunch of our guys went to high school together. Most of the guys who are new have experience playing locally and they have blended well with the returning players."

Student Voices

VIU Mariners men's soccer goalkeeper Marko Ilich
Goalkeeper Marko Ilich keeps his focus on the next shot during a midweek practice. Photo: Matt Carter

Starting goalkeeper Marko Ilich hopes that the energy built up in Nanaimo by League1 BC play translates into support for the Mariners. "It's a small community here and everyone is soccer crazy," he said. "I moved to the Island because soccer here is year round and I can see the culture here. We had so many fans come out to Harbourside [now Nanaimo United FC] and we want to recreate that here. We need to bring some more people out and [let young soccer fans] see our players--ones that they can look up to and aspire to be when they get older."

Head-To-Head in 2024

The Mariners and Royals played two 1-1 ties and each won once. VIU won 2-1 on the road in the second week of the season thanks to goals from Kenneth Jolliffe and Charlie Smith (Squamish, BC). The Royals earned a 1-0 win in Nanaimo in late September.

Watch Out Now

Douglas: Matteo Falcone, a PACWEST all star who was tied for third in conference goals, returns for his fifth and final varsity season. 

VIU: Smith resumes his spot at striker after winning PACWEST rookie of the year honours. He also finished second in conference goals. Energetic and speedy midfielder Ashton Bryant (Whitehorse, YT) takes over as team captain. 

Fresh Faced First Years

Ten student-athletes on VIU's 25-man roster are beginning their first season of varsity play.

Transfers

  • Goalkeepers Marko Ilich (MacEwan, SAIT) and Brian Murray (Red Deer) bring plenty of high-level and varsity experience to the VIU net
  • Defender Joseph Hare-Goss (Nottingham, England) will line up against his former Douglas College teammates in the opening weekend

Fifth Years

Ilich is the sole fifth-year on the VIU roster.

'Round the World

Defender Nathan Torres (Carbondale, Illinois, USA) is the only international student-athlete on the VIU roster. However, a number of Mariners were born overseas, including brothers Maxwell Dadzie and Marshall Dadzie (Stockport, England), Benedek Horvath (Boba, Hungary), Josh Rayner (Johannesburg, South Africa), and Aaron Henderson (Haverfordwest, Wales). 

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