Each team had a chance to dominate one half as Cowichan United and Nanaimo United played to a scoreless draw at the Sherman Road turf last Friday night in Div. 2 of the Lower Island Women’s Soccer Association.
Nanaimo pressed Cowichan off the start, but strong defensive play in the middle of the park from Kate Collins, Kristina Biello and Sam Walker forced Nanaimo to take most of their shots from distance, making goalkeeper Tiara Enger’s job easier.
Cowichan reversed the trend in the second half, holding Nanaimo deep in their end of the pitch. Rachel Price took several runs down the left wing, creating chances in the centre with her crosses. Kelsey Thorne sent a pass to Nicole Pugh at the top of the box, but Pugh’s hard shot blazed past the outside of the post. Anna Corbett was also denied on a couple of chances in quick succession: her initial shot was stopped, but when the Nanaimo keeper tried to clear the ball, it bounced off a Cowichan player and fell back in front of Corbett. Unfortunately the Nanaimo goalie was able to scramble and save the second shot as well.
“A draw was probably a fair result,” Cowichan coach Adam Paulson said. “Although we will regret not capitalizing on our second-half chances.”
Cowichan United will visit Gorge at Hampton Park this Sunday.
