Game Report: May 10 at Home Against Langley United
- Elise Coates
- 4 days ago
- 4 min read
Another set of home games, another weekend of action! With Langley United being one of two new expansion teams, Nanaimo didn’t know what to expect. A new team means a new collection of players and an unknown playing style. The ladies put on quite the exciting show and showcased their grit and ability to fight until the end, and the men followed with a valiant effort.
WOMEN’S GAME
What a nail biter! Capilano University player Lauren Grey started the game off strong and scored off a free kick in the 9th minute. Her free kicks throughout the game were something else. The defenders quivered every time she approached the ball.
The women held their lead the entire first half. Nanaimo’s frontline was an absolute menace and gave the Langley a run for their money - check out their teamwork and attacking skills down below. Their efforts to play to feet and move the ball quickly definitely paid off. RJ Barfoot was the queen of penetrating runs down the flanks and Ella Ashfiled was a crucial presence in the midfield. She is a tackling and play making machine!
Grey commented on the game:
We were hoping to come out a little bit stronger in the first half because first halves in the past haven’t been very strong for us. I think we did a really good job of that today. I think the second half we dropped a little bit.
In the 61st minute, Langley scored from a crazy corner kick - from the corner flag to the back of the net, it went straight in. As the second half proceeded, the more intense the game got. Both teams were going incredibly hard and fighting for every play. Kaiden Thorpe made an incredible save in the 77th minute, but a scrappy rebound in the 84th minute stayed just out of reach. With Langley now in the lead with less than 10 minutes to go, Nanaimo’s ladies were giving it their all. In the final minute, both teams made great opportunities and were working hard to maintain possession and play the ball on the ground. It was some great soccer.
Just when we thought the action was going to subside and the final whistle was going to be blown, in the 92nd minute, Nanaimo’s Ella Ashfield ended up with the ball in the box. The ball was heading for the back of the net, but a Langley player’s hand got in the way - an immediate red card! Was Nanaimo going to score this penalty kick and tie up the game?
Jensa Napier-Ganley was the gal - with ultimate composure, she stepped up to take the shot. Nice and simple, she slotted it into the right corner. Goal! What a way to end the game and secure a point to add to their standings!
UBC player Mary Nicholls is back in town now that her university semester is done and got her first game in with the gals this weekend.
I’m feeling good about the team this year. We’re looking pretty good even after today it was good competition and like all the girls this year pretty good. I’m excited to be back.
RUN IT BACK - PLAYS OF THE GAME
Check out one of Kaiden Thorpe’s saves!
Things were getting crazy in the last few minutes! Nanaimo’s ladies sure are gritty and know how to play hard until the final whistle. The hand ball in Langley's box:
Jensa Napier-Ganley the PK queen:
MEN’S GAME
“We’re in a tough spot,” says men’s head coach Kevin Lindo. “We’re conceding goals and not scoring too many.”
Nanaimo and Langley battled it out this Saturday and Nanaimo’s men dominated possession in the first half. Both teams were quick to press and pounced on each other’s defenders and keepers. The energy was high. Alex Dedame, Suka Behery, Declan Brown and Charlie Purcell sped forward and caused some stress in the box in the first minute after a confident tackle by captain and centre-back Fergus Hall and a sweet pass from the midfield by Ben Creswick. Their high press provided them with some deadly chances - Dedame and Behery took advantage of a short pass from the keeper to a lone defender and created a 2v2 situation at the top of the box. Langley’s keeper and a speedy defender were able to get in the way of a hurtling Purcell who almost got a proper foot on the ball.
In the 40th minute, Purcell was at it again, and managed to get the ball in the back of the net. The shot was unfortunately called offside. Check out the replay below.
A small lapse in form in the second half resulted in a Langley scoring spree. Niklas Hallam, a University of Toronto player, came on shortly after and scored Nanaimo’s first home goal of the season.
“Positives are that we’re determined to get it right. We have a great group of lads, we just need to start clicking,” says coach Lindo. “The motivation is there, we just need to make it happen.”
RUN IT BACK - PLAYS OF THE GAME
Charlie Purcell’s goal that was called offside - so close!
Niklas Hallam with the first home goal of the season!
STAY TUNED
Next weekend, the teams are heading to Swangard Stadium to play the TSS Rovers. Please note that the game times have changed since we posted the schedule at the beginning of the season! The women play at noon and the men follow at 2:30 PM. All the games are livestreamed on League1 BC’s YouTube channel.