The Cowichan Cougars played to a well-deserved tie against Vic West in an over-30A women’s soccer match at Evans Park on Sunday morning.
The Cougars entered the match in sixth place in the division, but moved up a spot as a result of their 1-1 draw with fourth place Vic West.
Alita Mattin opened the scoring for Cowichan, completing a nice passing play through the midfield by slotting the ball into the corner of the net.
“It was just the kind of play we have been trying to develop all year,” remarked Mattin. “Moving the ball through the defence to the midfield and forwards before finishing off the cross.”
The pass to Mattin came from Stacey de Lusignan, who was celebrated as Vancouver Island Footballer of the Week, an honour shared between the Lower Island Women’s Soccer League, the Vancouver Island Soccer League and the youth Lower Island Soccer League.
Cowichan’s offence sputtered after that, and the Cougars found themselves back on their heels for much of the rest of the match. Vic West eventually beat Cowichan goalkeeper Sara Tweten with a shot to the top corner midway through the second half.
Tweten returned to form with some late heroics to preserve the tie, including a diving save that tipped the ball off the post and away.
“It was a solid team effort, based on the numbers and players we had,” coach Darian Achurch said. “With a couple more bodies, I feel we could have controlled the ball more and opened up a bit more of a lead.”
Cowichan hosts third-place Prospect Lake this Sunday at 10 a.m.