The Cowichan Cougars Over 30 women’s soccer team won their second in a row Saturday afternoon beating Div. 2 Salt Spring United 2-1 in a crossover match.
The Cougars had to come from behind to win.
“The league has set up crossover games between divisions to fill out their schedule but also to provide a preview of matchups for cup play in the spring,” said Cougars coach Darian Achurch.
The teams traded chances all game with Cowichan getting the bulk of the chances. The Cougars just couldn’t beat Salt Spring’s goalie though.
With 15 minutes left, Cougars’ defender Katie Mattin tangled with a Salt Spring forward at the edge of the penalty area and Salt Spring converted the ensuing penalty shot for a 1-0 lead. Cowichan didn’t stay behind for long, with the team’s leading scorer, Ashley Stultz, flicking a header into the Salt Spring net.
In the dying moments of the game, Mattin redeemed herself for her earlier foul. She kicked a long, low shot that fooled the keeper and gave the Cougars a 2-1 victory.
“I just wanted to make up for my earlier tackle,” Mattin explained. “I knew scoring a goal would be the best way to redeem myself for the earlier tackle.”
The Cougars will have next weekend off after Gorge Masters failed to field a team for Cowichan’s next crossover match.
Division 1 women draw with Castaways
Meanwhile Div. 1 Cowichan FC, now sponsored by The Society Barbershop, played to a 1-1 draw with Castaways on a bitterly cold Nov. 6 evening in Victoria.
The teams traded efforts in the first half to no avail but Cowichan struck first in the second.
“This time we were able to make it count, as Jada Hill’s corner found Sam Walker in the Castaways box,” head coach Adam Paulson explained. “Walker headed the ball down, and the ball just eluded the Castaways goalie as she dove to save it, giving Cowichan the 1-0 lead.”
Due to the efforts of Cowichan FC goalie Kate Collins, Castaways weren’t able to convert on their chances. That is, until the 78th minute when a Castaways winger was able to hit a low pass across the 6-yard box, and it was met there by unmarked Castaways striker Isabella Colantonio who thumped the ball past Collins to tie the game.
“Overall, I felt a tie was a fair result. This was a battle of the two teams that promoted into Division 1 this year, and while we controlled the start of the game, Castaways definitely had more of the ball as the game wore on,” Paulson said. “We picked up a couple of in-game injuries that cost us a little pace at the end of the game, and they made us pay for it. Every match we have against this team is always a close, tough affair, and this one was no different.”
Cowichan returns home for a game against Saanich Fusion FC on Sunday, noon at Sherman Road turf.