The Vancouver Island University Mariners men’s soccer team has started preparing for their season with two former Kondors in the mix looking to crack the roster.
Both Ben Robson and Darien Atkinson have been hard at it on the pitch this summer with the Mariners, looking to impress the coaching staff in hopes of landing a spot on the Mariners roster.
Robson, entering his third season at VIU, knows it’s a tough test with all the talent that’s shown up but he feels good about his chances.
“It comes down to hard work,” Robson said. “I’m feeling a lot stronger and faster than I did my first two years here, so that’s a big positive for me.”
“All the guys that are out here are really excited about our squad and what we’re going to have to offer this season. It’s a great atmosphere to be a part of and it feels awesome to get back at it.”
Atkinson, meanwhile, is looking to make the roster in his first year at VIU.
“I feel pretty confident,” Atkinson said. “But I know it’s not going to be easy. There are a lot of great players that are here and I’m excited to challenge myself and hopefully earn a spot on the squad.”
Last season was a successful one for the Mariners, as they found themselves in the gold medal game at the national championships in Toronto. The Mariners finished with a silver medal after a loss in the final but it was a successful season nonetheless.
With the ruling made, if a pitcher throws more than 60 pitches in a game, he’ll have to sit for the next three games, which effectively takes a player out of the tournament.
“It’s going to be a balancing act,” Seredick said. “We’ll have to make sure we watch the amount thrown, first and foremost.”
“But if you get in situations where you’re in the lead and give up a run, do you make that call to pull him right then and there or let him throw a little more and work his way out of it. It’s going to be interesting but we’re going to make it work.”