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Rough opener for U21 Cowichan United

First game of season doesn’t meet expectations
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Cowichan goalkeeper Noah Wickham tips the ball over the crossbar during the second half of United’s 4-2 loss to Prospect Lake on Sunday. (Kevin Rothbauer/Citizen)

Coming off winning the George Smith Cup as Island U21 champions last spring, Cowichan United started the 2018-19 soccer season with a 4-2 loss to Prospect Lake Lakers at the Sherman Road turf on Sunday afternoon.

“It didn’t really go exactly how we expected it to,” Cowichan head coach Tyler Hughes admitted.

At this time of the season, fortunately, results aren’t Hughes’s main concern.

“I stress with the guys that the main thing for the first few weeks is focusing on us and our performances, focusing on how we are playing when we are in possession, focusing on positional playing,” he said. “Not focusing so much on results.”

Cowichan is a better team than they showed on Sunday, Hughes emphasized.

“Training has been good. We’ve been playing well. So I was a bit disappointed with our performance. We just lacked a bit of sharpness. Our passing wasn’t as great as it has been. Overall, we were OK, but we’ve definitely still got a lot of work to do.”

United was a new team last year, so their success wasn’t anticipated. That has now changed.

“Last year, we didn’t know what to expect,” Hughes said. “After the way last season ended, expectations were high going into this year.”

Even with most of last year’s players returning, there’s still a process of shaking off the rust.

“It will take a bit of time to get back to where we were and get everybody back on the same page,” Hughes said. “I’m not worried about anything.”

Devin Jack scored both Cowichan goals on Sunday. Jack also scored twice in United’s 7-0 win over Div. 3 Cowichan Red Arrow in a McGavin Cup game on Sept. 6.

“He has really come on strong this season,” Hughes said. “He finished last year pretty good, but the first couple of games this year, he has looked sharp, he’s looked lively.”

In addition to playing for United, Jack was one of six U21 players who suited up for Cowichan LMG’s Div. 1 season opener on Friday night. Players from the U21 ranks are expected to get a lot of time with LMG this year.

“That will be a big part of their development, for sure,” Hughes said.

A couple of 16-year-olds — centre back Adyn Lamont and centre midfielder Nic Fusick — were among the standouts for United on Sunday. Noah Wickham filled in for injured goalie Brayden Nash, but can also play out when Nash returns.

“He did a great job,” Hughes said. “He made some great saves. If he wants to play goal, we will have some competition for the goal spot.”

Cowichan’s season continues next Sunday at 6 p.m. on the Ladysmith turf against the Mid Isle Mariners, who won the league last year.

“It will be a tough game for us,” Hughes said. “That’s what we want right now.”