This week’s guest recap is courtesy of Corey Almond
Women’s Team
Rovers 1-2 Vancouver Rise
Two quickfire Vancouver Rise goals were enough to see off TSS Rovers at Swangard Stadium.
Lacey Kindel converted a penalty 14 minutes in following a Sofia Faremo handball. The TSS midfielder was judged to have blocked a Rise shot with an outstretched arm.
The ball hadn’t gone out of play from the restart before the Rise had a second. A deep ball in from the right found its way to Quinn Johnson, who headed in smartly to give the Rise an early two-goal lead.
TSS did respond before the half. Erin Van Dolder connected well with Claire Ye’s free kick, heading across goal and giving Samantha Powell little chance in the Rise net.
The Rise continued to press through the second half, coming close to a third but being denied by a strong TSS defensive performance. Ultimately, though, it was a defeat for TSS. With two NSL professionals in the side, it was always going to be tough against a team who are vying for the league title.
Men’s Team
Rovers 2-1 Vancouver Whitecaps
The men’s game also saw a goal 14 minutes in, this time for TSS Rovers. Michael Hennessy sent Ivan Mejia left, the forward with plenty to do as he sprinted to the byline before turning back on his defender and firing past Trystan Read in the Whitecaps net.
TSS went into the break with the lead, but they were also down to 10 men. Kian Proctor received two yellow cards in as many minutes. The first was for delaying a Whitecaps free kick by kicking the ball away, and the second was for dissent, the referee unhappy with Proctor for something said following the first yellow.
Another red card would be shown 15 minutes into the second period, this time for the Whitecaps. The onrushing Mejia was tripped by keeper Read on the edge of the area following a sprint for the ball, the referee with no option but to show a straight red.
Despite losing a man, the Whitecaps responded well, equalizing 12 minutes from time thanks to Colby Renton’s well-placed finish.
But it wasn’t enough for the away side, as Mejia struck again with five minutes to go. The forward found space between the Whitecaps defence before shaping up well and slotting past substitute keeper Carson Lydell to seal a 2-1 victory.
