Brent Mutis, CapU Sport Information & Compliance Officer

Blues sports have returned to Capilano University.

After missing the entire 2020-21 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Blues women's and men's soccer hosted USports opponents in exhibition play at the new-look Lillooet Park last week.

Starting things off, the Blues women's side played the Thompson Rivers University (TRU) Wolfpack and settled for a 1-1 draw. The game was scoreless at halftime but TRU took the lead in the second half on a strike from distance by Katie Chun. 

CapU was able to generate a response late in the second half with first-year midfielder Maya Smith doing the damage. Smith almost gave the Blues the lead shortly after but was whistled down narrowly offside.

After one day off, the Blues women hosted defending USports champions the UBC Thunderbirds in a game that was divided into three 30-minute periods owing to high temperatures. UBC showed their class, opening the scoring on a corner kick that was headed home by Danielle Steer.  UBC would score multiple times in each subsequent period on their way to a 7-0 victory. The Blues tested the UBC keeper on a couple of occasions, the most dangerous chance being off the boot of forward Catrina Olstrom, but were unable to find the back of the net.

The final contest in the return to action at Lillooet Park featured the Blues men's side taking on TRU. Again, the game was divided into three 30-minute periods owing to heat and some smoke in the area but the Wolfpack appeared unaffected by the conditions on their way to an 8-1 win. Wolfpack striker Dylan Hooper netted a hat trick in the TRU win while Merlin Fisk had the lone Blues tally, a penalty kick tally after he was taken down in the box in the game's final minute.

Next up for the Blues women are more exhibition games; they host club side BCSPL Fusion Saturday Aug. 21, again on Thursday, Aug. 26 and another game Thursday, Sept. 2. The women also host club side TSS on Saturday, Aug. 28 and host Metro Fusion on Saturday, Sept. 4. 

For the Blues men, they host an exhibition contest following the women's game on Saturday, Aug. 28 and host another preseason contest Friday, Sept. 3.

The Blues' PACWEST home and season opener is set for Saturday, Sept. 18 with Vancouver Island University paying a visit to CapU. The women's game is a 1 p.m. start with the men scheduled for 3:30 p.m.