Abbotsford – The UFV Cascades soccer teams arrived home from California on Tuesday after an eight-day trip to the golden state. Both teams played a number of games during their sojourn in the cities of Los Angeles and San Diego, while also finding time to sample local cuisines, explore legendary beaches, and even venture to the Six Flags Magic Mountain amusement park. Led by their intrepid coaches Rob Giesbrecht (women) and Alan Errington (men), the Cascades conducted themselves well against American competition, and return a fitter, closer (and more tanned) squad.
The Cascades women’s team scrimmaged two National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) teams, The Master’s College Mustangs and the Hope International University Royals. The squad also scrimmaged two NCAA Division II sides in the Cal State LA Golden Eagles and the UC San Diego Tritons. After a rocky start to the trip, the Cascades shrugged off their travel fatigue and played some respectable soccer in the sweet California sun. Because of American intercollegiate rules, scores cannot be reported for these informal scrimmages, but the experience was more important than numbers in the win/loss columns.
Third-year keeper Kayla Klim, recently returned from a summer competing with the W-League Seattle Sounders, was outstanding for the Cascades through all four games. In the midfield co-captain Kara Delwo played her first competitive soccer in over a year after returning from ACL surgery, and both fourth-year striker Shelby Beck and rookie Lauren Venhola tallied twice on the trip.
“In the two games against the NAIA teams we were able to balance our playing time among the 25 players we brought on the trip,” said coach Giesbrecht. “We had two outstanding matches versus the NCAA teams, which was critical because both those teams provide the quality athleticism, technical ability and pace of play that we will face when we compete against the top teams in Canada West. From a competitive viewpoint this trip was excellent preparation for our upcoming season.”
The Cascades Men’s team took on the Biola University Eagles (NCAA Div II) and the Azusa Pacific University Cougars (NCAA Div II), as well as LA Misioneros FC of the Premier Development League (PDL). The team was supposed to play a fourth game against another club squad, but due to scheduling complications the game was cancelled and the team instead played an inter-squad scrimmage on an LA beach before cooling their heels in the ocean.
Third-year striker James Najman scored a goal in all three of the Cascades’ exhibition matches, while Mason Woochuk goal-tended his way to a shut-out against LA Misioneros. Rookies Tammer Byrne, Harry Owen, Grant Fadden, and Mason Thompson also stood out in the fray.
“I am pleased with the progress of the team during the trip — especially of the rookies,” said coach Errington. “The team spirit is high and the players are getting along great, bonding well. The team was great on the trip and have enjoyed their time in Los Angeles, but are itching to get started in league play.”
The women play their next game in Surrey on Sunday, August 31 against the Calgary Dinos, while the men play next Friday, Sept 5 against TWU to start their season.
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