A pair of defenders stepped up to provide the offence for the Cowichan Cougars in a 3-2 win over Prospect Lake in Saanich last Friday night.
Joeleen Achurch scored twice and Ali Garnett had the other as the Cougars flipped the script on the Prospect Lake team that had downed Cowichan by an identical score in a women’s O30A soccer match Duncan two weeks earlier.
Better known for her stalwart defending and bone-crunching tackles, Achurch gave Cowichan an early lead, her first goal coming off a corner kick by Stacey de Lusignan that bounced around the box before she slammed it home. The second goal came on a 40-yard shot that eluded the Prospect keeper.
“I was inspired after watching the university nationals played at UVic last week,” Achurch explained. “They would shoot from anywhere and try to catch the goalie off guard.”
Garnett’s goal gave the Cougars a 3-0 lead at halftime. Prospect mounted a comeback in the second half as the game got more physical, with numerous tackles and injuries that went ignored by the officials. The Cougars turned back two free kicks in the dying minutes to preserve the win, giving Billy Keserich his second win as a sub for head coach Darian Achurch.
“The girls played great at both ends of the pitch,” Keserich said. “I am proud of how they were able to gut out the win in this tough match.”
The Cougars hope to continue their winning ways this Sunday when they host the Castaways FC B team at Evans Park at 10 a.m.