So, we may have gotten a little ahead of ourselves last weekend. First thing’s first – our women did in fact, clinch a playoff spot, and a matchup with the Mighty Whitecaps in the first round. They were playing for pride and style points in this one, with their place locked up. Also, a little revenge, as it was in Kamloops last year where they were on the short end of Rivers’ first win of the year. As for the men, it turns out there was a lot of significance to the match. After our win in North Vancouver last weekend, we had assumed that mathematically, we had clinched second, and with the Whitecaps Academy the only team that could still beat us, we would get the Voyageurs’ Cup berth even if we didn’t win the league. On the stream, the very polite Scottish voice of Michael McColl told everyone that it hadn’t actually be confirmed by the league that the second place team would get the spot if the Whitecaps won….oh. So, 1 point from 2 games for some more club history with our first Regular Season Title. They drove all that way, and it was hot (apparently), so might as well wrap it all up in the sun at Hillside Stadium.
It was announced in advance that kickoffs were being moved to later in the day, due to the heat in Kamloops. A small handful of Swanguardians made the road trip to witness some history, but the majority were settled in front of a laptop or phone watching along on YouTube. Hopefully with cooler temperatures. The later start meant that we knew the outcome of the Whitecaps men’s game before ours kicked off. They made a late comeback, and scored a winner at the death against the Burnabeagles to force us to earn the title. It also meant that the Whitecaps win the Juan de Fuca plate again.
Our women led things off, having clinched the playoff spot last week, we saw some names that we don’t see quite so often. Rovers stuck first 15 minutes in when Niah Kuehne took advantage of a turnover and we saw our first smoke waft across the screen. The half featured several hydration breaks (good) but no further goals.
Jenna Baxter got things rolling at the start of the second, doing again what Jenna Baxter does, on another Rivers turnover. Instead of that being that, though, Rivers got one back at 60. Then, surely we were done…
Jenna Baxter (see previous paragraph) did it again, her second of the game, and it’s 3-1 Rovers 80 minutes in. It’s hot, let’s all go….Rivers score at 94 to make it 3-2 oh no not stoppage tim….SOFIA FAREMO WITH A MISSILE FROM 25 YARDS (thank you helpful football lines) and it’s 4-2 for the Ro…Hannah Martinelli makes it 5-2 gosh did Jay bring enough smoke and there’s the final whistle. 5-2 for the Rovers, who continue their impressive play and head into the final week on the good vibes.
After the intermission, it was time to see if our men could do the job. Win the league. Leave no doubt about the Voyageurs’ Cup spot. Keep hydrated.
Ali Zohar realized the occasion, and on a corner kick 10 minutes in, picked the top of the net, over the keeper’s outstretched fingers. An Olimpico! Michael McColl on the commentary was very excited about it. From there, it got a bit more open. Rivers tied it up in the 34th minute, Massud Habibullah scored ANOTHER highlight reel goal off a free kick from the exact same spot that Sofia launched her rocket from in the earlier game. (25ish yards, just outside the left hashmark – thanks again, football lines!) Our lead was short-lived, as Rivers tied things up in the minute of stoppage time on a goal by Elijah Dos Santos (name sounds familiar…), and we went to the break catching our breath on the Youtube stream, tied at 2.
Second half, the Rovers came out looking to seal the deal. Michael Hennessy had his ball go in off some guy named Dos Santos (that name again!), but the Cognac man was credited with the goal. 3 minutes later, it was Massud firing a cross in, and that guy named Dos Santos (maybe he’s confusing the I and the O thing?) knocked it in his own net. This time, he gets the OG.
Rivers weren’t done being a pain in the ass, though, as the got awarded a penalty with less than 6 to play, but Connor Adams clearly confused the shooter into hitting the post with his effort. Tick tock, tick tock added time and then finally we heard the whistle. With 3 of our own (Jay, Chris, and Rich) waving the flags and popping the victory smoke in the hot sun, and the rest of us whooping it up in the WhatsApp chat, the guys in red made a little more history. League 1 Champs. Check.
Anyway…

That’s pretty f**king cool. Congrats to all the staff and players. We finally did it.
One more week to go, with a trip to Nanaimo, and then playoffs. Our men will be hosting TBD on Friday July 26 at 7:30pm. Our women will face the Whitecaps, time and date TBD.