After the three opening matches of the Vancouver Island Soccer League, Campbell River Cermaq FC is still without a point in the league table.
However, a great deal of Division One experience has been earned, and the side is still showing signs of life in its first year competing in the league’s top tier.
The Campbell River squad played last Saturday at Willow Point Park, against one of Victoria’s most reputable clubs, Gorge United, which sits in second place in the VISL table.
After a scoreless first 40 minutes, with chances at both ends, Gorge United scored just before the half.
Coincidentally, the first goal was set-up by former Campbell River striker and Timberline graduate Edward Lawson, who is playing with Gorge United in his first year, studying/living in Victoria). At half-time the score read 1-0 Gorge.
Campbell River Cermaq gradually worked its way into the match, narrowly missing chances from a corner kick (just back after halftime) and partial breakaway from young Campbell River star Kellen Arnink, who put the ball into the side netting, just wide.
Around the 70th minute, Cermaq was carrying the play, looking destined to equalize.
Full-back Eric Roberts sent a tremendous cross into the box, but was sent just over the bar.
Almost immediately following the attack, a miss-kick between defenders broke a Gorge United striker in on goal.
He calmly slotted the ball past sprawling Cermaq keeper Beau Belle-Oudry and secured the three points for the Victoria side.
The match ended with a final score of 2-0 in favour of Gorge United FC.
Up next, Campbell River Cermaq travels to Nanaimo this Thanksgiving weekend to try and secure its first points of the 2016/2017 campaign.