Nanaimo United FC’s (NUFC) women’s and men’s soccer teams lost hard-fought matches at Q’unq’inuqwstuxw Stadium on Saturday.
The women’s team was short of starting players as many of them are still at university, leading to 14 permitted players, some still in high-school, getting some minutes on the field. Starters Jade Dillabourgh and Avery Henderson left the match at half-time to play in a BC Soccer Provincial A-Cup Championship playoff game in Victoria.
All photos by Mick Sweetman / The Discourse.
Evolution FC from Coquitlam scored the first goal in the first minute, and it wasn’t until the second half that NUFC answered back with a long-bomb by Niobe Darku, scoring in the 74th minute.
The final score was Evolution FC 3, Nanaimo United 1.
Nanaimo United FC men hold Evolution to one goal
The Nanaimo United FC men’s game mirrored the women’s start with a quick goal in the second minute by Evolution FC’s Frixos Petsas.
Nanaimo United’s Ben Creswick picked up a yellow card in the 38th minute, but an uncalled foul against Nanaimo FC early in the game was waived away by the referee.
Nanaimo United’s defense stepped up to prevent a number of chances by Evolution FC from turning into goals, such as this blocked shot by defender Matthew McConnach.
Nanaimo United FC got an excellent chance in the 84th minute to even the score by Suka Behery but it went just wide of the net.
The final score for the men’s match was Evolution FC 1, Nanaimo United 0.
The next home game for Nanaimo United at Q’unq’inuqwstuxw Stadium is against Burnaby FC on April 26.
With files from Nanaimo United FC’s Elise Coate’s match report.
More matchday photos
