The Cowichan Cougars won their first game of the Stephanie Shergold Cup tournament last weekend, while Cowichan United fell to 0-2 in Doug Day Cup play.
The O30 Cougars prevailed 1-0 over Nanaimo’s Div. 2 side at Merle Logan Turf on Friday night, their lone goal coming in the 73rd minute when Joeleen Achurch intercepted a Nanaimo clearance and sent the ball to Mel Findlater, who slipped past a defender and hit the back of the net.
“The entire team stepped up and played great,” coach Darian Achurch said. “We look forward to our next cup game and a chance to get into the semifinals.”
The Cougars will play host to another Div. 2 team, Vic West, at the Sherman Road turf this Sunday at noon, with the winner advancing to the semifinals.
Cowichan’s Div. 2 team came out with a valiant effort against the Div. 1 champions, Gorge FC, at home on Sunday, but ended up on the wrong side of a 4-1 final score.
Gorge led 3-0 after 25 minutes, but Cowichan got one back four minutes later when Alyssa Klotz stripped the ball from a Gorge defender and found Jada Hill at the top of the 18-yard box. Klotz nearly made it a one-goal game soon after, when her shot skimmed the top of the crossbar. The second half was even, with Gorge adding their fourth of the game in injury time.
Cowichan will play their next cup game next Sunday at noon against the Div. 1 Pace FC Wolfpack at Iroquois Field in Sidney.
“We entered the Div. 1 cup so the ladies could understand what it will take to compete next year,” said coach Adam Paulson, whose team has earned promotion to the next tier. “After a first 25 minutes that I can only describe as ‘eye-opening,’ the ladies raised their game and held their own against the perennial division winners. If we bring that level of intensity next week, there is no reason why we can’t earn a win.”
Div. 3 NIFA Pacific is playing in the Frank Leversedge Cup and had both their games last weekend rescheduled. They will play at home against the Prospect Lake Lakers at the Cowichan Sportsplex this Sunday at 1 p.m.