Women lose a tough one against Capilano
By Eric Wilkins, Sports Editor
The women’s soccer team took a trip out to Capilano University on September 21, and despite dominating the game, suffered a 1-0 loss against the Blues.
“It’s one of those games where everything [the Royals] do is right and you can’t ask for anything more, but we just don’t finish,” said assistant coach, Ivan Estrada.
The Royals set the tone of the game early on, and it wasn’t long before they started to see results around the goal. In the 11th minute, Tiffany O’Krane (#8) ripped a shot off the crossbar from 25 yards out. Shortly after, a cross into the box found Nicolle Fraser (#13), but her effort was also off the top of the woodwork. Then in the 13th minute, completely against the flow of play, Capilano’s Andrea Standerwick (#6) fired one in from distance after a Royals’ giveaway down the middle. Douglas’ women were quick to get back to the attack though, with Ashley Melvin (#11) supplying several dangerous crosses from the right side of the pitch, resulting in some prime opportunities the squad couldn’t quite put away. The 24th minute saw Marni McMillan (#21) knocked down in the box, and, despite howls from the sideline for a penalty, the referee waved play on. McMillan refused to let it get her down though, curling in a dangerous free kick minutes later that was put just wide, before having a go of her own fly wide of the target shortly after. Great pressure from Angela Carotenuto (#19) in the 35th gave her team a chance from distance with the keeper out, but the Royals were unable to capitalize. The referee showed McMillan a harsh yellow in the 38th minute during a stoppage in play in which the Blues’ coach loitered on the field—delaying the game.
The second half saw a noticeably chippier game begin to take shape, with the referee allowing some questionable contact. Melvin recorded the first shot of the half in the 51st minute from just outside the 18, but it was well-saved by the Blues’ netminder. Continued pressure from the Royals saw another shot from Melvin after a run down the wing, followed by an effort on goal from Mia Rushton (#3), though neither found the back of the net. The referee found a pair of blinders in the 61st minute when Rushton was kneed right in front of him, an injury that would later force her from the game; play was waved on though—no call. Capilano had a rare opportunity around the Royals’ goal minutes later, but Ashley Dunn proved up to the task, dealing with the dangerous cross handily. The 67th minute saw a yellow for Capilano’s #4 after a brutal slide tackle took down Douglas’ Lindsay Munroe (#23). With the Royals pressing late, Dunn came up with two huge saves to keep them in the game, but the team ultimately fell short, unable to put one in the goal.
“Very frustrated. We had them the whole time… we had one unlucky break and they scored,” said Bachelor of physical education and coaching student, Ashley Melvin.
With the Royals off to an 0-5 start, Rushton addressed the question of what the team needs to change. “That’s a question we’ve been debating this whole time. I’m not sure that it’s something we can put a finger on… I think we need to play our game for 90 minutes… and if we do that—give everything we gave today but finish our chances, that’s when we’re going to win.”
