It was a frustrating way to start the season for the Quest Kermodes men's soccer team.
The team travelled to Nanaimo to take on the Vancouver Island University Mariners and the game unravelled for the team after a solid start.
"Everything was going according to the game plan for the first 25-30 minutes," said head coach Adam Day. "We actually had a chance early on but then conceded a goal and that changed the game."
Day explained that the first goal was scored after a throw in, pointing out that the striker had enough time to play the ball off his chest and volley to his foot to score, meaning the Kermodes positioning wasn't tight enough.
"To allow a goal on a set piece is just simply not good enough," Day said. "The scorer had way too much space and that can't happen."
The Mariners added another goal with 30 seconds left in the first half to put the Kermodes down 2-0.
"It was really difficult to go into the half down 2-0," Day said. "We just didn't have the heart, passion or drive to keep it a one goal game."
The Mariners added a third goal in the second half to add to the Kermodes woes. Day was frustrated with the result.
"VIU will be a strong side this year but there is a lot of parity in this league," he said.
"Anyone can beat anyone and we shouldn't have that fear factor. I still feel like this group has a lack of fire in them. Technically and tactically we are fine but the mental part we need to work on."
The women opened their season earlier in the day, losing 2-0 to the Lady Mariners.
"We played aggressively for 90 minutes and were the fitter team," head coach Martina Franko told reporters in the dressing room post-game.
The loss was blamed on defensive miscues but goalkeeper Tiana Gilchrist was praised for making several key saves to keep the game close.
It will be a busy weekend for both the men and women next week as they take on the University of British Columbia-Okanagan on Saturday (Sept. 18) and then Thompson Rivers University on Sunday (Sept. 19).
For more information on the teams, visit www.questkermodes.ca.
