(left to right) Kathleen Gratz celebrates goal with teammate Shanay Sangha
(photo courtesy of Vancouver Sports Pictures)


 

For immediate release

October 4, 2010

Mid-season matchup: Eagles vs. Royals

(METRO VANCOUVER, B.C.) The KPU Eagles men’s and women’s soccer teams faced off against local rivals, the Douglas College Royals this past weekend in BCCAA league action. The beginning of October marks the mid-way point of the soccer season and the intensity only escalates as teams are gearing up for the provincial championships, to be hosted at the new KPU turf field located at Newton Athletic Park in Surrey.

Saturday’s matchup was a home game for the Eagles side. Kicking off with the women’s game the Eagles were able to secure a 3-0 victory over the Douglas College Royals. The opening goal came in the 23rd minute by sophomore striker Shanay Sangha (Richmond) on a redirected shot. Shortly after, freshman goalkeeper Melina Gomez (North Vancouver) did her job to keep the Eagles ahead by a great save in the 25th minute.

Freshman striker Kathleen Gratz (Surrey) continued to perform by scoring her third goal of the season in the 33rd minute to increase the Eagles’ lead. And the third and final goal of the game was scored by veteran midfielder Marissa Dionne (Delta).

On the men’s side, the game fared far differently. The Douglas men came out fast and furious scoring six goals in the first half. The Eagles defense was unable to answer back to the Royals offence. Tempers ran high in the eventual 9-0 loss.

Sunday’s performance was not in the Eagles favour. In the women’s game, the Eagles were able to hold off the Royals until late in the first half, when the Royals took a 1-0 lead. The Royals were able to defend their lead throughout the second half and securing a win for their squad.

The men’s team came out with the intention of bouncing back from Saturday’s match, but the Douglas side had a different idea. “The boys came back with a good mental attitude on Sunday. By no means, was that a team that should beat us nine to nil. They came back, closed down the spaces and for the most part played well on Sunday,” says head coach Ajit Briach. Despite the stronger effort the Royals offence was again too much for the Eagles and the scoring continued leaving the Eagles down 5-0 at full time.

At the half-way point of the season the women’s soccer team has a record of four wins and two losses, sitting second in their pool and currently holding a playoff spot. The men’s squad faces mathematical elimination based on their 0-6 record thus far in the season.

Up next for the Eagles soccer teams are away games against the undefeated Vancouver Island University Mariners on Saturday and the Kermodes from Quest University in Squamish.

KPU’s Varsity Athletics teams are the KPU Eagles. In basketball, soccer, badminton and golf, they compete in national intercollegiate leagues. For more information about the KPU Eagles or view live webcasts, visit kpu.ca/eagles or follow the Eagles on Twitter: KwantlenEagles

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Read all KPU news and releases here: kpu.ca/news

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For more information about this story or the Eagles Athletics program, contact:
Elise Le Brun
Director, Athletics & Recreation
Tel: 604.599.2980
athletics@kpu.ca

OR

For more information about KPU, contact:
Joanne Saunders
Director, Marketing & Communications
Tel: 604.599.2243
joanne.saunders@kpu.ca