When navigating the gauntlet that is the Canada West conference, it's often the little things that make the difference between winning and losing.
That's the lesson the University of the Fraser Valley women's soccer squad has been learning throughout an up-and-down first half of the season.
This past weekend at Bateman Park, the Cascades opened a two-game homestand with a dominant performance in a 2-0 win over the Lethbridge Pronghorns on Saturday. UFV didn't allow a single shot on net, and goals from Chelsea Steffen and Megan Webster provided the margin of victory.
On Sunday, the Cascades out-played the Calgary Dinos, holding the majority of possession and out-shooting their guests 12-3. But it was the Dinos escaping with a 1-0 win, courtesy of Victoria Moretti's goal in the 27th minute.
The loss dropped the defending Canada West champs to 3-3-2 on the season, good for seventh place. While the Cascades are still in the thick of the playoff race, head coach Rob Giesbrecht said his team needs to bear down and find another gear.
"Our biggest issue this weekend was just a lack of finishing – just that final pass or final shot just let us down a little bit," he said. "You earn that little bit of luck you need, and maybe we're just lacking that extra level of competitiveness or desire to allow us to get the points."
In men's soccer action, the Cascades snapped a five-game losing streak with a scoreless draw against UVic on Saturday at Bateman. But on Sunday in Victoria, the Vikes won the back half of the home-and-home set 4-0.
"We need to do some soul searching and the week off might be the best thing for us to be able to re-group," said head coach Alan Errington, whose team fell to 1-6-1.
• During their bye week, Errington and nine first-year players from his UFV side travel to Fredricton, N.B. this week in search of a national U18 title. They're part of a Magnuson Ford Mariners FC squad which won the provincial championship in July.
The Cascades women hit the road this weekend to face UBC on Friday and Trinity Western on Saturday.