Malaspina Mariners Men's Soccer Team wins silver at national final

The Mariners Men's Soccer Team put up a brave fight right to the end of double overtime in the last match in the Canadian Colleges Athletic Association soccer nationals held in Kamloops, recently.

The Mariners went all the way to the last competition but lost to Cariboo Sun Demons 2-0 in two overtime periods, earning a second place silver medal. Going into the last match, the Mariners were the clear favourites having won the British Columbia Athletic Association gold medal against the Sun Demons, who failed to make the BCCAA playoffs.

According to Mariners' head coach Iain Baird, the Mariners had lots of scoring opportunities but Sun Demons' goalkeeper Greg Godber was outstanding. That, and the fact that the Mariners lost their All-Canadian striker Paul Bateman who tore ligaments on both sides of his right ankle early in the game, reduced the Mariners advantage. Bateman led the BCCAA with nine goals over the past season.

Coach Iain Baird won an award himself. The week his Mariners won the silver medal, he won the Canadian Colleges Athletic Association Coaching Excellence Award. Baird has been coaching the Mariners since 1995 and teaches physical education and Japanese at John Barsby Senior Secondary.