By Colton Hornstein
Special to the Record
The Comox Valley United men鈥檚 and women鈥檚 soccer teams hosted playoff matches on Vanier turf on Sunday (Feb. 25), with positive results for both squads.
The United women played their inaugural season this year in Division 2, where they went undefeated with a commanding 63 goals for and just a single goal against over the entire season. With that level of performance, they were promoted to Division 1 for playoffs in the Doug Day Cup, where they would be facing tougher opponents.
The women played first with a cup game against Nanaimo United on Saturday. From the start the two teams appeared evenly matched, with the tide turning back and forth through the midfield. It was clear that this game would require more effort and intensity than ever before for them to break through Nanaimo鈥檚 line.
Center defenders Alana Davidson and Zoe Marler saw their toughest challenges all season, solidly shutting down opposing attackers but tiring themselves out in the process. Fifteen minutes in United subbed on one of their youth players, Nastasha Kalhous, a player known for 鈥渁lways being in the right place at the right time鈥� by her teammates. After a powerful long-distance shot from Zoe that Nanaimo鈥檚 keeper couldn鈥檛 hold on to, the ball spilled to Kalhous, who buried it short-side for a 1-0 United lead.
Nanaimo pressured hard after that. Late in the half, a foul just outside the box set up a free kick for Nanaimo. They sent every player in to crowd the box. The ball sailed over the wall of defenders, targeted at the back post of the net. Comox keeper Savannah Marinus leapt backwards to get a hand on it and send the ball out the back line. Nanaimo set up for a quick corner, still pressed forward and hungry. In the fray, a Comox defender managed to clear the ball and then Comox鈥檚 star, Clara Jamieson, was off like a rocket. She outpaced the defender tight on her back, and barely cut across a second defender. About to run into a third, she fired a quick release shot from outside the box into the upper left corner with authority.
The second half was all Nanaimo with multiple chances including three more free kicks, all defended by United. After a fifth foul and with just seconds left in the contest, Nanaimo managed to score, making it a 2-1 game. Nanaimo rushed to grab the ball from the net and restart play for their chance to score again, but they would never see it. The whistle signalled to end the game, a win for Comox.
Men follow suit
The men played their game on the turf Sunday afternoon, where they were greeted by an onslaught of offence from Cowichan鈥檚 Axis FC in the Jackson Cup quarterfinals. Comox started in a 4-5-1 formation, preparing to settle in for a long game against the Axis. They defended well with heroic effort from Zack Stinson and keeper Justin Black, but offensive chances were harder to come by. Comox鈥檚 best chance came from veteran Nick Marinus: a long ball came close to the box for an easy pickup by the Axis keeper but Marinus managed to get a toe on it before the keeper could grab it. The ball bounced between them, including multiple dives from the keeper to block the net, who was ultimately successful at keeping the ball from crossing the line.
The game ended 0-0 in regular time. In cup play, the game proceeded immediately to penalty shots where the best score out of five shots each would advance to the semifinals. Axis struck first, then strikers from both teams buried shot after powerful shot. On their final shot, the Axis striker aimed at the bottom right corner and fired. Black laid out and got fingers on it to send the ball just barely wide. Last up to shoot for Comox was Gabby Mason, freshly subbed on before the end of the game. Mason shot straight for the corner. The Axis keeper dove the right way, but he reached out too late, and Mason鈥檚 strike rippled the back of the net, sending Comox on to the Jackson Cup semifinals for the first time in the club鈥檚 history.
The women are headed into Victoria to face Gorge United, both teams tied at the top of their group. The men will host George FC at the Vanier turf on Saturday, March 9 at 6 p.m. Come out and support the home side.
