A second-half surge propelled Cowichan Red Arrow to a 5-0 win over the Prospect Lake Lakers in their Div. 4 men’s soccer season opener at the Sherman Road turf on Saturday afternoon.
Cowichan got off to a good start, pinning Prospect deep in their own end for most of the first 30 minutes. When play got into their own end, Red Arrow goalie Tim den Hartigh got his first action of the day, but managed to keep the ball out. Around the 37th minute, Cowichan regained control of the match, but couldn’t turn it into points on the scoreboard.
“We had two very close chances that where thwarted by our own desire to get goal side,” coach Will Chaster said.
The teams went to the locker room knotted at 0-0, but Cowichan started the second half at full speed. They chipped away at the Prospect defence until finally, Kevin Smith put the ball into the net.
“After that, as someone on the bench noted, the flood gates opened,” Chaster said.
Brandon Tolfo scored a pair, and Derek Knight and Sam Smith added singles.
“For the most part we did not have to defend, and that took away from my game plan to work on the new system,” Chaster said. “The players did a lot of the ball movement, but still we have things to work on.”
Two days prior to their league opener, Red Arrow played a McGavin Cup match against U21 Cowichan United, losing 7-0. Devin Jack, Logan Kits and Michael Fusick each scored twice for the young team, which advances to the McGavin Cup quarterfinals.
Red Arrow visits Castaways Invicta this coming Saturday, and Cowichan United hosts Prospect Lake at the Sherman Road turf on Sunday at 2:15 p.m.