The VIU Mariners soccer teams went to West Vancouver for the PACWEST provincials and returned to Nanaimo with two gold medals. (VIU Mariners)

By Dan Marshall

Double Gold

Mariners soccer teams win PACWEST, advance to nationals

Oct 31, 2022 | 9:59 AM

NANAIMO — The VIU Mariners are the 2022 PACWEST champions in women’s and men’s soccer.

Both teams won gold medals in West Vancouver on Oct. 30, with the women being dominant in a 5-1 win over the Douglas Royals.

Jade Dillabough had a pair of goals and Shea Battie, Kate Reynolds and Saki Meshida also scored.

Mariners coach Bobby Taylor said her team has excellent leaders and has kept a day-by-day approach.

“We’ve been working on our game all season. We’re just taking one game at a time. Our leaders are incredible and rise to the challenge in the big games.”

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The men’s team came off a semi-final triumph over Douglas to upend top-seeded Langara 2-0 in the championship game.

Billy Bagiopoulos and Matthew Coburn provided the offence for VIU.

Coach Kevin Lindo said it was a stellar weekend for the program with the Mariners winning double provincial gold for the first time.

“My guys have been steadily improving each week and we were confident going into the weekend. The two wins were a testament to their willingness to learn and carry out the game plan.”

The gold medal wins also garnered a number of individual awards for VIU players.

Dillabough was named player of the game in the women’s final along with the tournament MVP.

Reynolds was the top forward and Melanie Osborne took home top goalkeeper honours.

On the men’s side, Bagiopoulos was selected top forward and tournament MVP while midfielder turned goalie Michael Heppelle won top goalkeeper.

Both teams now advance to the CCAA nationals Nov. 9-12 in two different locations.

VIU’s women will visit Saint-Lambert outside Montreal while the men will go back to the lower mainland to Langara’s home field in Langley.

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