An unlucky break cost Cowichan FC Saturday against Castaways FC.
The Cowichan soccer club started on the front foot, controlling the game in Castaways half, but were unable to turn that pressure into chances. Castaways were able to generate a corner 30 minutes in, and the resulting kick found a Castaways head, but defender Hillary Fisher was on hand to clear the ball off the line. In a tightly contested game, no further chances occurred in the first half, and the teams went into the break scoreless.
In the second half, Castaways only got stronger. Their superior numbers were telling as Cowichan began to tire.
Another Castaways corner fell dangerously in the box, and another clearance off the line by Norah O’Reilly-Ryan kept the game scoreless.
As the game ground towards an inevitable 0-0 scoreline, Castaways caught a break in the 85th minute, as a shot going wide caromed off a Cowichan defender and wrong-footed keeper Kate Collins. Cowichan immediately pressed and almost had a pay off, as forward Aisha Werner broke into the Castaways 18-yard box, but her shot was saved by the opposing keeper.
Castaways held firm, and sealed the 1-0 win minutes later.
“We started out strongly, with the midfield duo of Kayla Kazda, and Ashley Stultz running the game,” said head coach Adam Paulson. “As with previous games however, our depleted numbers ended up costing us. Hopefully we can get some returnees from injury and stay in games until the very end.”
Cowichan looks to right the ship at home, next Sunday 12 p.m. versus the other Castaways Div 1 team.