Tough Game, Tough Finish

NANAIMO - At this point of the season, any points are valuable, and the Mariners did well to earn a point against the conference-leading Falcons.

However, an Langara PK equalizer in added time took the Mariners from 3 points to 1 in a 2-2 tie that featured 7 yellow cards.

VIU's Connor Nelson was the story in the first half. He scored two goals in fifteen minutes to pace the home squad to a 2-0 advantage.

The first goal happened after Joseph Hare-Goss caused a Langara turnover 25 yards from the VIU net. He sent the ball up to James Upshaw who sent a high ball towards striker Charlie Smith. As the ball bounced between Smith and a Langara defender and goalkeeper, Nelson swept in and deposited the ball into the net. 

Upshaw also had a hand in the second Mariners goal. After a turnover, he one-touched a pass towards the Falcons net for Nelson to run on to. Nelson one-timed the ball into the bottom-right corner of the Langara net. 

The Falcons got one back three minutes after the half as the game got rougher. Six of the game's yellow cards were handed out in the second half. Late in the game, a Falcons shot deflected off the arm of a VIU defender and Langara were given a penalty kick and David Rodriguez Zegarra converted it for the tying goal.

With the point, the Mariners trail the Capilano Blues by two points for the final PACWEST playoff spot.