VIU Mariners continue strong tradition at college soccer nationals
The Vancouver Island College Mariners have created one of many higher traditions in Canadian school males’s soccer the previous decade-plus, profitable the nationwide championship in 2017 and 2010 and putting because the nationwide runners-up in 2019, 2014, 2
The Vancouver Island College Mariners have created one of many higher traditions in Canadian school males’s soccer the previous decade-plus, profitable the nationwide championship in 2017 and 2010 and putting because the nationwide runners-up in 2019, 2014, 2013 and bronze medallist in 2012.
The Pacwest Convention champions continued that pedigree by opening the 2022 Canadian Faculties Athletic Affiliation nationwide event at Willoughby Group Park in Langley with a 5-2 victory over the Atlantic champion Holland School Hurricanes of Prince Edward Island within the quarter-finals Wednesday.
“[Past VIU head coaches] Invoice Merriman and Larry Stefanek [the latter now head coach of the UVic Vikes in U Sports] constructed up such a great basis for me to construct on,” stated present VIU head coach Kevin Lindo.
The present Mariners have stitched collectively a workforce of student-athletes that vary from throughout oceans to throughout the Island. VIU is led by its 4 Pacwest all-stars. Matthew Coburn is out of Nanaimo District Secondary and fellow-defender Jonny McKenzie from Dover Bay Secondary. Midfielder Michael Heppelle is from Kamakura, Japan. The explosive ahead Vasilis Bagiopoulos is from Thessaloniki, Greece, through a stint rising up in Powell River, and he had a hat-trick within the quarter-final victory over Holland School.
“It’s an awesome mixture of gamers, from abroad, to high quality lads from Victoria as much as Campbell River,” stated Lindo.
To all of whom the soccer world is opening up.
“This can be a nice time for our sport in Canada, clearly beginning with the World Cup qualification, and with so many alternatives out there now for these gamers from the VISL to League1 B.C. to the CPL,” stated Lindo, who has additionally coached Nanaimo United to back-to-back VISL Jackson Cup championships.
The Mariners meet Ontario-champion Seneca Sting within the CCAA nationwide semifinals in the present day.
The host Langara School Falcons will tackle the top-ranked Humber Hawks in in the present day’s different semifinal.
CORNER KICKS: Lindo may have loads of choices to select from popping out of the highschool ranks. The Lambrick Park Lions gained the Island Double-A championship this week at UVic. … The Island highschool Triple-A championship will probably be determined in the present day at 2:15 p.m. at Starlight Stadium. … Glenlyon Norfolk Faculty defeated Oak Bay of their Decrease Island highschool Colonist Cup semifinal and can meet the Reynolds Roadrunners within the Colonist Cup closing on Nov. 16 on the UVic turf area. Incorrect data appeared in Wednesday’s version.
cdheensaw@timescolonist.com
