In 2010, the Quest University Kermodes women's soccer team scored a total of nine goals in the 11 league games they played.
This season, after two games, the team has scored a whopping 11 goals and is being fuelled by several offensively skilled players.
What a difference a year makes.
The Lady Kermodes walloped the University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC) Timberwolves 7-0 at Quest Field on Saturday (Sept. 17). Forward Krigi Marti said the team is feeling good early in the season.
"We're all really excited," she said. "The team is meshing well together and we're pumped about our start for the season."
Marti said an influx of new, young talent to the team has pushed the veterans and made every player step up her game.
"There's more competition for playing time and we just have a lot of talent on the team," she added.
She noted that the addition of vocal assistant coach Craig Smith has made a positive impact on the team.
"He's really intense," she said. "And he gets really excited during the game but I think it's been good for us."
The team built a 3-0 in the first half and added four more in the second to put the boots to UNBC. Marti and Mari Tarleton each scored a pair in the win, with Ami Massey and Tanner Batchelor adding singles, with UNBC putting one in its own net. The win also vaults the Kermodes into first place in the Pacific Western Athletic Association (PacWest) standings, with a record of 2-0 and a goal differential of +11.
It was a different story for the men's team, who took to the pitch after the women's game and dropped a 2-1 decision to UNBC.
"I thought it was a typical game in the PacWest Conference where there were two even teams and the team that capitalized better on their chances won," said men's head coach Jonas Worth.
UNBC built a 1-0 lead after the first half but Quest's Alex Morgan replied early in the second and Worth said he told the team to pick up its game in the locker room at halftime.
"I told them to lift their heads up," he said. "I said that they're a different team and that I've seen them play soccer at the very best level. The first half was too simple and ordinary for us."
The Timberwolves scored the winning goal midway through the second half on a mad scramble in front of the Kermodes' goal, but Worth said the Timberwolves were full value for the victory.
"They're a great defensive team," he said. "They might be riding the same system that got them to the provincial finals last year but they're extremely well organized."
He said the Kermodes need a better effort in the coming weeks to pick up wins.
"We need to play to our capability for a full 90 minutes," he said. "Our first half today was too simple. We have the ability to play much better."
The loss drops the men's record to one draw and one loss after two weeks of action.
The men's and women's teams will hit the road for a doubleheader on Saturday (Sept. 24) and Sunday (Sept. 25). The teams kick off the weekend against the Kwantlen Eagles and finish up with the Douglas College Royals. The next home game will take place on Oct. 2, when the Langara College Falcons come to town.
For more information on the teams, visit www.questkermodes.ca.
