The second half of the Mid-Island Women’s Soccer League 2011/2012 season got underway last Sunday, and Oceanside United was awarded a win without taking to the field.
Prior to this year’s annual break the long-running league lost the Courtenay Legends due to inconsistent turnouts. The top players from the Legends teamed up with some of the top players from the Courtenay Shooters over the break, and have formed the by all accounts dangerous, CVUSC Revolution — as in Comox Valley United Soccer Club Revolution.
Oceanside was sitting atop the first-half standings with the Legends and were due to face them back in November when the up-Island side packed it in.
On Dec. 11 Oceanside United shelled the Nanaimo Wheatys 5-nil in what was supposed to be the start of league’s second season. Because of the Legends folding and the ensuing scheduling nightmare, the league changed the start date of the second season — a clean slate wherein all teams revert back to a fresh record to see who represents the Island at the provincials — for the rest of the teams to Jan. 8, but awarded OU (who were idle last weekend) the win.
On Dec. 11, Oceanside’s scoring sisters, Natasha and Rebecca Collins, clicked for a goal each, and Taylor Mang, Heather Morrison and Angelina Gastaldello rounded out the scoring. OU keeper Pam Richer earned the shutout in net.
GAME ON
Oceanside United resumes league play this Sunday in Qualicum at high noon against the new team on the block.
The Revolution won their first game as a team last Sunday with a 3-0 shutout win over the Outlaws.
“Oh man, if they scored that many goals against the Outlaws they’re a very good offensive team — it’s going to be a tough game for us,” Mahony chuckled this week when The News caught up with him, adding, “they call themselves the Revolution, and that tells me they have a lot of fire in their bellies, that they want to shake things up in the league. They’re a combined team with some of the top players (in the league), and unfortunately we have to face them coming off a five-week layoff, but I know our players will play the best they can. It should be a great match.”