Another solid defensive outing gave Cowichan United a 1-1 draw with Lakehill in a U21 soccer match at Braefoot Park last Sunday.
“The last couple of games, as a team, defensively we’ve looked pretty strong,” Cowichan head coach Tyler Hughes said. “Braeden [Nash] has been unlucky the last two games not to have shutouts. I’m really pleased with our defence.”
Cowichan took a 1-0 lead in the first half on a goal by Luke Armstong in his first game back after a month away travelling. Lakehill was stymied by United’s defence until the last three or four minutes, when they were finally able to score.
“We were missing a handful of players for various reasons, but we had a strong lineup,” Hughes said. “The boys played really well.”
United has a 19-man roster, but due to injuries and other wear and tear, the bench was empty by the end of the game.
“It’s a tough time of year for this age group,” Hughes noted. “A lot of them have school soccer going on as well, so kids get worn out and injuries happen.”
United remains in fourth place in the U21 division, just behind Lakehill and ahead of their next opponent, Vic West.
Cowichan will meet Vic West this Sunday at 2 p.m. at Finlayson Park for the beginning of the second portion of the season. Cowichan prevailed 2-1 when the teams met on the Sherman Road turf in their season opener.
“I expect us to be better the second time around,” Hughes said. “The standards are higher from within. For myself and the players, the expectations for our performances are higher now.”
The players are committed to the team, and training has been going well, in Hughes’s view.
“They’re starting to grasp the concepts,” the coach said. “Now we’ll focus on the next stage of training, moving on to more tactical aspects.”
kevin.rothbauer@cowichanvalleycitizen.com
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