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Leading the Kwantlen Eagles women's soccer team to their first berth
into the BCCAA provincial championships is the team captain and
fifth-year sweeper Shannon Booth, pictured centre with the ball.
For immediate release
October 17, 2008
Kwantlen Eagles women's soccer clinch first playoff berth in five year history
(SURREY, B.C.) The Kwantlen Polytechnic University Eagles women’s soccer team clinched a berth in their first British Columbia Colleges’ Athletic Association (BCCAA) provincial playoff championships. The women secured their spot with two crucial victories on the road last weekend against the Vancouver Island University Mariners and Capilano Blues, the defending 2007 BCCAA provincial champions.
The Eagles women’s soccer team has played well against the top Canadian Colleges Athletic Association (CCAA) nationally ranked teams who compete in the BCCAA. They’ve tied Thompson Rivers University (TRU) twice, tied and then defeated the number one ranked Langara College Falcons and shared points with the Capilano Blues with three points apiece. With two games remaining in the regular season, the Eagles are excited about what’s to come.
"It’s exciting to see it all come together," commented Elise Le Brun, director of athletics. “We’re still a very young program. To qualify for playoffs with a team comprising of mostly rookies is a huge accomplishment, and a testament to the hard work and determination by all our of players and coaching staff.”
The Kwantlen’s women’s soccer program entered the BCCAA league in 2004, and has only seen continual improvement. In 2007, they bettered their previous record of one win to four wins. In 2008, with a new team of 12 rookies and eight veteran players, the team has a current league record of six wins, four ties and two losses. This is the best performance for the young Kwantlen Polytechnic University women’s soccer team. The team is currently undefeated in the second half of the season.
On the men’s side, the Eagles will have to dig deep and find the momentum that launched them into the spotlight in the first few weeks of league competition in order to beat the UBC Heat in a double-header this upcoming weekend. “We have had to scrape and claw for everything we’ve achieved so far this season and I expect next weekend to be no different,” commented coach Alvano.”
With only two league games remaining, wins are paramount for the men’s team this weekend in order to seal the final playoff spot. Currently, sitting in fifth place in the BCCAA, the men's Eagles are chasing for fourth place, as only the top four teams advance to the playoffs. The women’s team have qualified in fourth position.
The Eagles host the UBC Heat on Saturday, October 18 and Sunday, October 19. For game times and location, visit www.kwantlen.ca/eagles
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For more information, contact:
Elise Le Brun
Director, Athletics & Recreation
Tel: 604.599.2005
elise.lebrun@kwantlen.ca
OR
Audrey Wang
Manager, Communications
Tel: 604-599-2385
audrey.wang@kwantlen.ca