The results have exceeded early season expectations, and no one’s more happy about that than Douglas College Royals coach Chris Laxton.
With his women’s soccer team off to a hot start, at 5-0-1 and first overall in the PacWest League, Laxton could say he’s pleasantly surprised. Considering a couple of rough exhibition games, at least.
“We had a tough preseason and seemed to find ways to lose,” Laxton said. “Since the start of the (regular) season we’ve come out with some strong starts and good efforts.”
The Royals added wins over the Langara Falcons and Capilano Blues from last weekend, outscoring the opposition 6-1 in the process.
In Sunday’s 3-1 decision over Capilano, New West’s Taylor Spong connected just 37 seconds into the game to put Douglas on top. Alyssa Lum made it 2-0 in the 24th minute, and while the Blues countered midway through the second half, St. Thomas More aluma Mikaela Montagano capped the offence with a goal late in the contest.
A day earlier, the Royals didn’t take the lead until a minute into the second half, when Gracie Quesnelle buried a shot past the Langara keeper.
Co-captain Taylor Wettig netted a pair of markers two minutes apart with under 10 minutes to play to wrap it all up. Over both games, netminder Elisha Machado stood her ground and, while not overly busy, made some key stops.
While they’ve finished strong, Laxton said the team’s penchant for charging out of the gate – scoring in the first 10 minutes in five of their six games – has been a big boon.
“Our starts has been a point of pride for us, and I think some of that early pressure is thanks to that youthful energy.”
What has also been encouraging – and perhaps adding to the surprise – has been the performance of many of the team’s 12 freshmen players, who have made the jump to college level look easy so far.
“(The adjustment) is a little easier when they come from the B.C. Soccer Premier League,” said Laxton, “because they play a heavier load (of games and practices than Div. 1 and 2). We’re fairly rookie heavy and the back-to-back schedule is something that takes a while to adjust to.
“With our depth I feel we can do more managing our lineup and giving players breaks along the way.”
Machado, Quesnelle and Spong are part of that rookie uprising that has carved out important roles with the club during the first month.
Spong’s start also earned her this week’s PacWest women’s soccer player of the game award, with timely assists in both contests drawing the coach’s praise.
“She’s been fantastic and provided a great work rate up front,” said Laxton. “(Spong’s) started and come off the bench for us, and she brings grit when we need it.”
Quesnelle, meanwhile, has also made a positive impression in short order as a first-year player from Aldergrove.
“She’s like a puppy; she battles and battles and is always going after (the ball). You can see she loves to score and get into the dangerous areas.”
The lineup, which is 25 names long, also boasts veterans like Lum and Wettig, who help keep the team on an even keel and bring a degree of composure not necessarily expected from rookies.
“(Lum) took last year off but she’s playing like she missed it. She’s everywhere. She’s more mature and involved and has been a good leader for us,” he said of the Coquitlam native. “(Wettig) is battling everywhere, winning balls, winning headers and tackles. She’s been a warrior for us.”
Lum, Quesnelle, Spong and Wettig lead the PacWest with three goals apiece. And the whole team has contributing to what’s been a very strong start to the new season.
“I think we are deeper than ever before, with two players who can step in at every position,” noted Laxton. “There’s still work to be done, though.”
Douglas will face its toughest test yet, with a two-day trip to play fellow undefeated rival, the Vancouver Island Mariners (4-0-2), this weekend. Two weeks ago the squads battled to a 1-1 draw, with Lum giving the Royals a 1-0 lead just six minutes into the tilt.
Laxton says while expectations are high, the Mariners are very tough at home.
“Last year we went over there and won on the Saturday and lost on Sunday, which probably should have been (the) reverse,” he noted. “They’ve always been our toughest rival and (VIU) likes to make a big deal about it.”
