We are finally back at Swangard! And for 2024, TSS Rovers home matches will take place for the most part on Friday nights. No Canucks playoffs to compete with, so come on out and support your TSS Rovers!
In this edition:
- All our home opener news and information
- Previewing our opponent
- Last week’s recap and match reports
- News you can use.
This week’s opponent
Friday, May 17, 2024
v Altitude FC
Swangard Stadium
Tickets: Season tickets, Single game tickets or tickets at the gate
- TSS Rovers Women (0-2-0, 7th), v Altitude FC Women (0-0-3, 4th), 6:00 pm
- TSS Rovers Men (2-0-0, 1st), v Altitude FC Men (1-1-1, 2nd) 8:30 pm
BOTH MATCHES WILL BE LIVE STREAMED ON THE LEAGUE 1 BC YOUTUBE CHANNEL.
The hotly contested Ironworkers Memorial Derby is our first match at home this season. This rivalry took off the moment League 1 began in 2021, and deepened in intensity and competition last year as we took 10 of the 12 points on offer from Altitude to handily secure the Derby bragging rights
Altitude played Rivers FC last week at home and the women’s side secured a late draw to continue their streak to begin the season. Aurora Hughs-Goyette scored in the 80’ to get the point.
The Altitude men’s side wasn’t as lucky in front of goal but fought Rivers to a 0-0 draw. After three matches, Altitude sit in second place in the men’s division with 4 points.
Welcome to our new game day experience!
This season we have upped our game at home and our 2024 season home opener is brought to you by Parallel 49. Here’s what you can expect on Friday night:
- Pitchside standing sections so you can watch from the track.
- New food options are located in the north end courtesy of Dos Amigos and Burgerholic, so fans can still watch the game if they want food during the action
- Parallel 49 Pitchside bar (also located in North end) complete with corn hole
- DJ music for both matches
- Live music CJ & The Road Kills (Chuck Johnson, Danny Davies & John Higgins) set up behind the Swangaurdians in the Pirate Cove in the south end during the matches and then performing in front of the grandstand in between matches, playing through many of the songs that our Swanguardians have adopted into chants.
- A special presentation between matches from the Swanguardians to our championship-winning TSS Rovers Women’s Selects Team
- And, of course, TSS Rovers Craft Lager will be available throughout both matches.
Tickets are available at the gate, and season ticket passes are available on our website.
Last week’s recap
Women’s Team
Unity 5-1 Rovers
Our first match at Unity’s new grounds at Cloverdale Athletic Park saw the home side win 5-1. Unity got off to a flying start when Rovers failed to clear from a corner, allowing Bryana Buttar to lash it in and give Unity the lead within six minutes. Rovers could not find their way and were victims of a corner kick once again, failing to clear and allowing Elizabeth Hicks a free stab at goal, putting Unity two ahead. A close-range effort from Luciana Andrews made it three to Unity at the break.
TSS Rovers head coach Kevin Booker’s half-time words were evident in the first 15 minutes. we had numerous chances, which were either put wide or well-saved by Yasmine Pahal in the Unity goal. Unity’s resistance soon turned into an attack, though. Sophie Crowther smashed a free kick into the top left corner, which our keeper Kirstin Tynan got a hand to but could not keep out. The goal sparked Unity back into life, and we found ourselves on the back foot for the final portion of the match. Laren Spiller made it five to Unity before Rovers found a welcome consolation. Shayla Chorney delivered an inch-perfect ball that Jenna Baxter headed in from close range. It was the first goal of the season for TSS, but another tough day at the office as the full-time whistle blew.
We welcomed striker Vanessa Tome into the squad and celebrated her goal on debut with us. Vanessa played last season with Naut’samawt FC. Chloe Morin also made her Rovers debut in the midfield.
Men’s Team
Unity 0-2 Rovers
Something special is brewing on our men’s team this season. Eight minutes into the tie, chimes of “We are Rovers” could be heard from the traveling Swangardians in the far corner. They were enjoying a bright Rovers start in which Michael Hennessy and Devin O’Hea both went close. Unity also went close when a leaping Mihai Hodut sent his header just over the bar. Both sides’ biggest threat was their wing play. Rovers’ Gurman Sangha continuously sent balls into dangerous areas, while Unity’s Mihai Hodut and Victory Shumbusho both tested the our full-backs with quick runs towards the by-line. The last action of the half saw Sangha’s overhead kick well saved by David Hicks in the Unity goal, as the game paused goalless at halftime.
Five minutes into the second half, the threat of former Charlotte FC man Sangha paid off. He delivered a beautiful ball to Matteo Polisi, who made no mistake with a close-range header. With the deadlock now broken, TSS gained the confidence to play more possession-based football and were able to orchestrate their build-up play patiently. Sangha had a golden opportunity to score himself when he took it around Hicks but blazed wide in front of an open goal. Unity should have leveled when Shumbusho beat his man and saw his shot deflected wide. The home side looked most likely to score in the last ten minutes, but it was TSS Rovers who had the last laugh. After a couple of chances were saved by Hicks, Sangha pounced on a rebound and bundled in from a yard out to wrap up the game for our Rovers and send them home 2-0 winners.
The win took us to the top of the table with a perfect record and a game in hand on the rest of the league.
News shorts
We’ve had several inquiries about live streams for our matches. We aren’t doing live streams for our games this season unless they are matches produced by the league as their match of the week, such as this weeks games. However, we will have most of our games posted on the League 1 BC YouTube channel 24-48 hours after the match, most with commentary.
