The return to form of veteran striker and the emergence of a middy as a scoring threat has Oceanside United coach Dan Mahony feeling better about his side’s chances at a three-peat this week.
On Sunday down at Qualicum Beach Rec Fields, Steff Marriot opened the scoring and Andrea England scored her first hat trick of the year as Oceanside United teamed up for a 4-1 romp over the Courtenay Masters in women’s soccer action.
With the win, OU improved to 5-0 and holds serve as the only unbeaten side in the nine-team Provincial Cup Island Playdowns, while the Masters dropped to 2-3. The top team in the round robin represents the rock at the B.C.s.
Oceanside is attempting to become the first Island team to make three straight appearances in the provincials.
Longtime OU player Steff Marriot, who assisted on two of England’s goals, opened the scoring. England scored her first of three on the game shortly after.
In her second season with the side and the younger sister of former local rep standout and speedster Dustin England, Andrea salted the win with two more goals in the second half.
“We looked really good Sunday,” OU coach Dan Mahony agreed after. “as I told the squad at our practice that week, we can’t take any team for granted; anything can happen on any given day, and it was nice to see Steff get her scoring touch back. She’s been one of our top strikers for the past couple years but she’s in a bit of a drought because of a nagging groin injury.”
Still on the subject of scoring, Mahony said moving England up to striker from the midfield position continues to pay dividends as she has struck for seven goals in her last four games.
“She said to me after she’s never scored this many goals in her life,” chuckled Mahony, “so her confidence is running high. Right now she’s a lethal weapon for me.”
Mahony also had props for Shanna Nickolet at centre half.
Pam Richer was in net for the win.
In the upset of the week the Nanaimo Wheaties shocked the front-running Courtenay Legends 6-1 to climb back into the hunt.
“The Wheaties have done us a big favour in our playdown, however it does worry me a bit they may be peaking. We were supposed to play them this weekend, and I certainly don’t want them to upset us,” Mahony said of the 3-2 Nanaimo side, who they were supposed to face on home field this Sunday.
That game will no doubt have to be rescheduled because of snow.