The Cowichan Cougars showed they match up quite nicely with the top team in the Lower Island Women’s Soccer Association Over 30A division on Sunday.
The Cougars lost 2-1 to Castaways United in a back-and-forth battle at Evans Park that was decided by a tricky shot.
“It was another great game against the top team in our league,” coach Darian Achurch noted. “We have played them twice and both times have lost by one goal on a late score by Castaways. It shows that we deserve to be in this league.”
The teams played cat-and-mouse for the first half, with neither team creating many chances. Castaways finally got past the Cowichan defence and took a 1-0 lead into halftime.
The Cougars started making more opportunities for themselves in the second half, then capitalized when a shot by Joeleen Achurch evaded the Castaways keeper.
“I haven’t played a lot of midfield, so I just tried to take a shot when I had the chance,” Joeleen Achurch said. “I just wish I could have scored another.”
She did get another chance with a header off a corner kick later in the half, but the ball went over the crossbar. Castaways had plenty of chances of their own at the other end of the pitch, keeping Cowichan goalkeeper Sara Day busy. Two shots caromed off the crossbar, but the ironwork eventually let Day down when she dove to tip a shot off the post only to have it angle in behind her. Several late efforts by the Cougars to tie the score proved fruitless.
Cowichan will visit Gorge FC at Hampton Park this Saturday.