Sports

SFU gaining momentum through adversity

By Matt Lee, Associate Staff Contributor

The Clan women are back on the winning track and are now preparing for a game against their crosstown rivals from UBC. And while they were sitting with an outstanding 8-2 record heading into the last contest of a three-game homestand against Concordia University, the road for the Clan has been a bumpy one.

Statistically, the ladies looked unbeatable through the first third of the year, holding an unblemished record heading into mid-September.

They won their first six games by a combined score of 9-1, including a 3-0 thrashing against Victoria to open the season. Leading the way offensively for the Clan was college transfer Sarah Boulton, who scored six goals in the six game stretch, providing two-thirds of the SFU offense.

But while the wins were coming in bunches, the team was hit by the injury bug in a huge way, losing forward Marissa Antoniazzi and midfielders Lauren Lachlan and Marti Dumas for long periods of time. Head coach Shelley Howieson acknowledged that the team had been stricken with injuries all over the roster but refused to use it as a crutch.

“I’m not a coach who talks about injuries, but those are things you need to play through. [Injuries] are the kind of thing every team goes through and I’m sure that it’s something you need to battle.” Howieson said in a previous interview.

With injuries plaguing the roster, the ladies proceeded to drop their next two contests to fall to 6-2, losing by 1-0 scores against Concordia-Irvine and Trinity Western.

Since then, however, the return of Antoniazzi and Lachlan has rejuvenated the team, injecting speed and the scoring touch into SFU’s game. The Clan have won their last two games against Carroll and Corban College by a combined score of 7-1 and it appears the Clan are back on the right track.

Now, Howieson and crew are hoping the injuries are a thing of the past. And getting back to full health couldn’t come at a better time as the ladies in red and white will take on the Thunderbirds on Wednesday evening.

UBC was ranked No. 2 in the Canada West with a 5-1-4 record heading into press time and are sure to be a tough challenge for SFU. Last year it was UBC emerging victorious in Coquitlam, escaping with a 1-0 victory after midfielder Lisa Furutani scored the lone goal.

Considering the fact the Clan were 7-2-1 at this stage of the schedule last season, there is every reason to believe the team has been able to overcome adversity through injuries and will surely be in contention for a spot in the national championships in November.