They weren’t going to let it rain on their parade.
A pair of goals in the game’s first 24 minutes was just part of an onslaught as Simon Fraser University men’s soccer team trounced the Saint Martin’s University Saints 6-1 in Great Northwest Athletic Conference action on Saturday.
The Clan were in complete control, even before Mamadi Camara’s game-opening salvo at the seven-minute mark. Sixteen minutes later, they made it 2-0 when Burnaby’s Rahid Rahiem threaded a pass to Matteo Polisi, who slotted it past St. Martin’s keeper.
When the Saints’ John Cayman was red carded for a slide tackle on SFU’s Connor Glennon, the visitors were given another advantage over their hosts.
Unfortunately, the home team used it as motivation to score its lone goal five minutes later. But SFU replied and would expand its lead in the second half with tallies by Camara, Glennon, with two, and Polisi.
On the strength of their red-hot start,SFU climbed to the top spot in the United Soccer Coaches Div. 2 poll, rising two positions.
The 8-0 Clan host Concordia University on Thursday, 7 p.m. at Terry Fox field.
No goals, no win
A hot goalie and some frustrated feet were the big take-aways from a tough defeat last week for SFU’s women’s soccer team.
The Clan were unable to solve the Western Washington University Vikings on Saturday in a 1-0 loss in Bellingham, dropping SFU’s record to 3-3-0.
Scoring chances by senior Katelyn Erhardsen and Jenna-Lee Baxter were turned back in the first half, and the stalemate was only solved in the 82nd minute when WWU’s Dayana Diaz delivered the decisive tally. Freshman SFU goalkeeper Nicole Anderson made four saves in the loss.
The women visit Seattle Pacific University on Thursday and host Central Washington on Saturday (3 p.m. at Terry Fox field).
Clan push No. 7-ranked Vikings to five
Coming off a strong 3-0 win over the Alaska University Nanooks last weekend, the Simon Fraser University women’s volleyball team put it all on the court but fell short, 3-2 to Western Washington on Tuesday.
The Clan were in tough against the nationally No. 7-ranked Vikings, but rallied after losing the first set to take a 2-1 lead. It took extra points for SFU to edge ahead on a 25-23 decision, thanks to junior outside hitter Kirsten Pinkney’s team-high eight kills.
Western Washington replied to tie it on a 25-14 comeback, then capped it by winning the fifth and final set 15-8.
Pinkney finished the night with 20 kills, while also receiving important contributions from senior middle blocker Tessa May and junior outside hitter Betsie de Beer.
Defensive specialist Katerina Dolguikh and libero Jayme Bratsberg were also sharp, combining for 47 digs. At setter, Julia Tays did a little of everything with two kills, 58 assists, 21 digs and a block.
Simon Fraser will wrap up their four-game homestand Friday with a 7 p.m. match against the Montana State University Billing Yellowjackets.
