Adult soccer returned to the pitch on Sunday, Sept. 13 with lots of action in both the women's and men's leagues.
In women's action, the Gibson's derby saw high flying Mayhem pummel the Pigs goal mouth. However, you have to score to win, and the Pigs' defensive shell repelled the worst Trina Giesbrecht and company could give, to have the match end in a 0-0 draw.
At Connor Park, Fusion faced off against The Source.
New acquisition Teagan 'Turncoat' Crozier changed her Pigs blue for Source black, and knocked in a nice one, with Source veterans Carla Paetkau and Grace Bland, with a pair, also scoring. Fusion was on the ropes for the first half, but came out swinging in the second, with a goal from striker Melissa Braithwaite who returned from a three-year hiatus and played like it was 1999. Fusion's other goal came from fleet-footed Kate Doer.
In men's action, Dave Marsh's Halfmoon Bay Sea Kayaks ran down the undermanned Coast Progressive United (CPU) opposition, and he instructed his squad: "don't go for a 50/50 ball unless you're 90 per cent sure you can get it."
Keith Lewis set a league record for the fastest goal scored by a new guy, as he hit the mesh 15 minutes into his soccer career, though CPU's new defender Jeremy Budd made him keep his head up. Halfmoon Bay's other three goals were struck by seasoned scorers Ryan Daley with two, and a solid header from Marcel VanDer Stedlt. For CPU, Eoin Walker hammered homea 20-yarder, then powered through the goalmouth for number two. Halfmoon Bay keeper George Cuthbertson was everywhere CPU didn't want him to be, as he took Pat Braithwaite's diving header square in the bread box.
At Cliff Gilker, the two top seeded teams faced off in the first game of the season. The Sechelt Chiefs' Red Army began their long march to the championship with a dramatic tie against Sita's Selects. Selects resemble Real Madrid as Dino Sita has collected strikers from around the league. Matt Pense, Junior Dixon and Ken Campbell all hit the net, with a fourth from digger Chris Motlock. Chiefs answered with four goals in 15 minutes to tie the match 4-4.
This week the Pender Harbour Bananas inaugurated their newly opened Lions Park. Joe Letainge's header was the first ball to dirty the newly spun goaltwine as the Bananas went on to win their match 9-3 against the Gibsons Bruins. Interestingly, Bananas striker Rod Kammerle was held scoreless.
