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mariners mens soccer | they could run away with it      

Bill Merriman, head coach of Vancouver Island University's Mariners mens soccer program has an enviable problem. Every player in his pre-season camp has the ability to be a starter on his team. Roster limits imposed by Canadian Colleges Athletic Association means difficult decisions are coming down the road.

With many players returning from their silver medal provincial season a year ago, it is the first year recruits & walk-ons raising eyebrows of the coaching staff. Nervous, and rightly so, are the veterans of a quality team. Their spots are not chiseled in stone, and they know it.

Players are fit and already in game shape. A lengthy list on the VIU pre-season roster competed with Highlanders FC, Highlanders Reserves and Victoria United this past summer including Jared Stephens, Dano Cato, Davis Stupich, Chris Arnett, Ben Leggett, Chris Merriman, Romaie Martin, Ishimine Akihiro and Yoshi Wantanabe

The boys have three games under their belts in pre-season scrimmage tests with positive results that will capture your attention. A 5:0 winning score vs. Nanaimo United got the wheels rolling. A 1:0 defeat to Provincial Senior A Champion Gorge FC was no set back by any means. The result confirmed the small island university program has a competitive pool of players.

The head turner happened this week with a solid 2:1 victory versus University of Victoria's Vikes men's program. Stephen Ewashko opened the scoring on a first half penalty from the spot. Jarred Stephens netted the bomb to break a 1:1 tie in the second half for the winner. A first time victory over their Vancouver Island cousins.

Bill Merriman, head coach (left) with James Merriman, assistant coach 

Merriman is keeping expectations in check. He knows the boys are in a tough provincial conference. It has been a dozen years since the school from Nanaimo has captured a provincial crown and their only national banner was captured in 1983.

While Incider will refrain from creating hub city hype, there is a hint that fans of soccer in Nanaimo are in for something special this fall. This is a team that contains a wealth of skill, speed, size and deft ability. They're going to be an entertaining group to watch. 

VIU Mariners conclude their exhibition schedule with an away test in Burnaby, Saturday, September 4 vs. Simon Fraser University. This is SFU's first season competing in the NCAA Div II standard in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference. Kick off is 12 noon at Fox Field.

For fans in Nanaimo, VIU's BC Colleges Athletic Association league home opener vs. Quest University is scheduled Saturday, September 11, 3pm at Mariner Field. 

Click here for the 2010 season schedule.

Incider is local appetite for the beautiful game. Written and photographed by Randy Wachtin

 

viu mariners soccer | out of the shadows and into the spotlight   

Anup Kang, fourth year coach of Vancouver Island University Mariners women's soccer program has charted a course for his young soccer team with sights set on a national championship. If instincts tell him correctly, he's amassed the best team the school has ever fielded, and prospects for success are looking positive.

With a season high national #4 ranking in play last season, the personable coach has been working overtime in recruiting quality players to build upon the incremental successes achieved since taking over the women's program in 2007.

 

High profile recruits from Vancouver Island's high school class of 2010 look to solidify the program for the next four seasons. Bronte Fitzsimmons, striker (Oak Bay, Gorge Premier); Shelby Walker, keeper (Spectrum, IKC, Gorge Div 1); and Carley Lawless, defender (Cowichan, Gorge Premier) bring game breaking abilities at both ends of the field. Upper Island Metro player, Jessica Smith (CariHi) is also added to the depth of the back line.

Saturday, July 10th marked the first time the final team came together as a single unit at Nanaimo's Merle Logan Turf. A fitness test followed by an exhibition match with Highlanders FC Ladies u21 Prospects in 30 degree celcius weather put things in perspective for the ladies. Nothing is going to come easy.

An exhibition schedule including a trip to Southern California is all part of the development of the young team as they look to achieve a high standard on the season. Games are lined up with Mesa College (San Diego); Vanguard University (Costa Mesa); and Cal State San Marcos (San Marcos) ...ooh so close to incider's home town of Fallbrook...

Mariners Women's Soccer kicks off their eleven game BCCAA (British Columbia Collegiate Athletic Association) season Saturday, September 11th vs. Quest University, 1pm at Mariner Field. 

Provincial playoffs are October 29-31; National CCAA championships in Edmonton, Nov 10-13. 

Good luck to Anup Kang and his young university team in Nanaimo. We'll be following you and rooting for your continued success.

Incider is local appetite for the beautiful game. Written and photographed by Randy Wachtin.