Make it back-to-back titles for the Cowichan Cougars.
The Over-30 B women’s team held off the younger Vic West Division 3 team to win 2-0 last Sunday and capture a second straight Frank Leversedge Cup.
“They decided to attack us from the first whistle,” coach Darian Achurch said. “They used a large roster of players to keep coming at us all game with speed.”
Lara Sinclair and Stacey de Lusignan did the scoring, but it was the Cougars defence, which Achurch says was the best in the tournament field, that made the victory possible. the team surrendered just two goals over six games and finished with four straight shutouts.
“We have a strong back line that has played together for a number of years,” Achurch noted.
“We match up well against both speed and tactics so it is tough to get around our girls.”
The game remained scoreless for a long time, with Cowichan’s best opportunity coming around the 30-minute mark when Courtenay McGeachy fired a free kick that eluded the Vic West keeper, but clanged off the crossbar. While it didn’t result in a goal, that play helped swing the momentum for Cowichan, and Sinclair managed to knock in a scrambly goal just before halftime.
“I just tried to get a piece of the ball towards the goal,” Sinclair said. “It was tough to say whether Christine [Switzer] or I touched it last, but the important thing is it went in.”
Vic West increased the pressure in the second half, but couldn’t beat the Cowichan defence, while Cowichan keeper Sara Day made several key saves. De Lusignan executed on a one-on-one situation with the Vic West sweeper and buried the ball behind the keeper to put a nail in the coffin.
“Down by two goals, Vic West threw everything they had forward and stepped up the physical play, but this only allowed us more chances in counterattack,” Achurch said. “The Vic West goalie did well to keep the score as it was, stopping three Cowichan breakaways that could have turned the game into a rout.”
Achurch considered the possibility of a three-peat for the Cougars.
“I am very proud of this team,” he said. “They never complain, never give up, and always support each other on and off the field. They are already looking forward to next year.”