Brent Mutis
CapU Blues sports info
In what was perhaps their most complete 90 minutes of the season, the Capilano Blues (1-6 PACWEST) fell just short in a 2-1 result to the visiting Douglas College Royals (2-4-1).
Capilano had their best start of the season on home field, controlling possession for long stretches in the Royals’ end of the park.
The Blues back line, consisting of captain Lauren Grey, Isabella Bolognese and rookie Meghan Ferguson, was sharp as they consistently stepped up to intercept forward balls from the Royals midfield which allowed CapU to keep possession and get organized for attacks.
Leah Herald and Alessia Bellotti, making her return to Lillooet Park after a lengthy injury absence, were effective in midfield in the first half. The Blues attack earned them multiple corner kicks and they were able to convert in the latter portion of the first half with Kai Belbin delivering a beautiful corner that fell to the feet of Kianna Sardari who punched it home for her team-leading third goal of the season.
Unfortunately, the lead was short-lived as speedy Douglas winger Anna Klaver-Valdez accepted a feed from Isabelle Dobbin and beat Rachel Laakmann to tie the game less than a minute after Sardari’s goal.
Klaver-Valdez returned the favour midway through the second half, setting up Dobbin’s game-winner in the 68th minute.
Capilano got fresh legs off the bench in the second half with Erika Di Lorenzo joining the defender group while Sasha Faris created some looks up front but couldn’t beat Vanessa Chung in the Royals goal.
Less than 10 minutes after Dobbin’s go-ahead goal, Chung made her best save of the afternoon off a Sophie Pather blast from the left edge of the 18-yard box. Pather’s right-footed rocket was labeled for the upper left corner but Chung’s leaping effort pushed it over the bar. Douglas stifled Ferguson’s ensuing free kick and the Royals hung on from there.
With a quick turnaround, the Blues are back in action at home Sunday, Sept. 28 in a noon kickoff against Langara College.
