“Let the rains begin,” one parent panned from the sidelines Saturday as the players took to the pitch at Arrowview Elementary School for an early instalment of soggy soccer.
One of a number of games played out in these parts on the weekend, this one saw the Oceanside Hot Bananas blank Nanaimo 5-0 in U13 Boys action.
“It was nasty nasty,” Oceanside head coach Brian Geiger confirmed after. “It was about as wet as we could take — it was typical winter soccer.”
All hosts from the outset, the Hot Bananas were rewarded for their tenacity and slick passing midway through the opening half when Jacob Webster-Baumel opened the scoring with his first goal of the season, and the floodgates opened, with Justin Geiger potting a pair and Alexander Marshall and Logan Basara adding singles.
A great team effort, Oceanside led 3-0 at the half.
“For the second game of the season I’ve been really happy with how well they’ve played together. The team is really starting to gel as a unit,” said Geiger.
Brandon Nicoll was in net for the shutout.
The Hot Bananas won their regular season home opener the week before beating Mid-Isle 6-1. Freeman Waechter and Ty Barker split the duties in goal in that one.
“Both games the boys have played really well together,” said coach Geiger. “The teamwork and team spirit is great.”
GAME ON: The Hot Bananas host another Nanaimo team on Saturday at high noon at Arrowview.