Close But No Celebrations
Mariners show grit but drop the 2025 home opener 2-1 to Douglas College
Douglas
1-0-0, 1-0-0
2
VIU
0-1-0, 0-1-0
1
| Final | 1 | 2 | T |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
0 | 2 | 2 |
|
|
0 | 1 | 1 |
Team Stats
Scoring Summary
2nd
- 53:55 -
Ryo Yoshida
(Douglas)
2nd
- 55:40 -
Brian Bland
(VIU)
2nd
- 73:45 -
Leo Anh
(Douglas)
Game Leaders
Douglas
G:
2 Players
(#16,
#25)
- 1
A:
N/A
Sh:
3 Players
(#10,
#16,
#19)
- 2
Sv:
Matthew Miller
- 3
Team Stats
| Game Statistics | Douglas | VIU |
|---|---|---|
| Shots (on goal) | 11 (7) | 12 (4) |
| Saves | 3 | 5 |
| Fouls | 17 | 13 |
| Corner Kicks | 4 | 2 |
| Offsides | 0 | 0 |
September 6, 2025
NANAIMO - A Mariners squad with plenty of new faces showed plenty of promise in their first game of the 2025 PACWEST season. Unfortunately, the Douglas Royals were up to the task of spoiling VIU's home opening party and handed the hosts a 2-1 defeat.
After a scoreless first half that featured 14 fouls, Douglas got on the board first with a Ryo Yoshida Olimpico in the 54th minute. However, the Mariners marched back down the pitch and responded less than two minutes later. Captain Ashton Bryant (Whitehorse, YT) fed a perfect cross into the box from the right wing and striker Brian Bland (Lantzville, BC) rose into the air to decisively head it home.
The Royals took the lead for good in the 74th-minute as Douglas's Leo Anh fired a long rising shot that deflected into the net off the hands of a diving Marko Ilich in the VIU net.
Ilich finished the day with five saves and took the loss.
Country Club Dairy Queen Player of the Game: Brian Bland
Striker Brian Bland went airborne to head in VIU's first goal of the season with Adam Tsang (#7) ready for any rebounds. Photo: Mary Kessenich
For more information, contact Matt Carter, VIU Mariners Communications & Sports Information Coordinator