Royals MSOC come up with huge result
By Davie Wong, Sports Editor
Going into the weekend, it’s safe to say the Royals were far from favourites against the league giant Capilano Blues. After a tough opening week, the Royals faced the challenge of bouncing back against the defending PACWEST Gold Medalists. However, the tight PACWEST schedule was to their advantage.
Having to play both the Royals and the VIU Mariners, it’s pretty clear to see which team the Blues had been prepping for. The two teams came into the game cracking at the whip. A much improved Royals defense put on a display of their end, denying shot after shot. Goalkeeper Joel Webb only needed to make two saves to get out of the first half unscathed.
On the other end, the Royals were having the same amount of luck the Blues were. Offensively, the team just couldn’t connect. Though credit to the Blues. They certainly didn’t make things easy for the Royals strikers in front of the net.
After all that build up in the first half, the second half saw the result. An aggressive tackle in the box by Royals midfielder Diego Govantes Galindo earned him a yellow and gave Capilano a penalty kick. Blues’ Nicholas Morello stepped up to the mark and made no mistake, putting the ball right past Joel Webb.
The goal was a kick to the gut for the Royals, but the team would eventually bounce back. A blast from controversial midfielder Quinn Dawson equalized the game for the Royals in the 71st minute. They didn’t stop there either.
A foul just six minutes later earned the Royals a shot from the spot. Prolific goal scorer Race Williams stepped up to the spot for the team. Cool, calm, and collected, Williams looked like a man with ice in his veins as he slammed home the go ahead goal. Now, it was about holding the lead.
Luckily for the Royals, a turn of fortune saw their opponents scrutinized by the game’s referee. Flagrant fouls eased the pressure on the Royals, as the team pushed for a third to close out the game. They wouldn’t end up getting it, but a red card issued to Blues’ defender Cooper Courvoisier at the 90th minute certainly helped the Royals close the doors.
It was a controversial game to say the least. The referee was centre stage as he issued two penalties and one red card, directly influencing the match. However, the win improves the Royals record to 1-1-1, with four points on the season. The team remain tied for third and fourth with the Quest Kermodes, who they face next week.
