Samantha Rodgers of Courtenay was named Most Valuable Player of the PacWest Provincial soccer championships this past weekend, leading the Vancouver Island University (VIU) Mariners to the gold medal.
The Nanaimo team defeated the #3 seed Langara Falcons 1-0 in the women’s final. Rodgers’ penalty kick goal in the final sealed the win.
“Sam has been very consistent this year, plays centre back, she is a leader on and off the field,” said Mariners’ head coach Anup Kang. “She was fantastic at the Provincial finals as we kept clean sheets in both matches. Sam has previously been acknowledged as an Academic All-Canadian, and a PacWest Conference All-Star,” Kang added. The Mariners defeated the KPU Eagles in the semifinal, also 1-0, in extra time.
“Sam has been one of the most consistent players on the Mariners team all season. In the Provincial championships she continued to play aggressive and smart soccer and was the backbone of the Mariners’ defence. The Provincial tournament capped an outstanding PacWest season for Sam,” added VIU athletic director Bruce Hunter.
The Mariners now head to the CCAA women’s soccer national championships seeded #3. They play #6 seeded Medicine Hat on Nov. 5.
THROW INS Rodgers, a 5’,8” G.P. Vanier graduate enrolled in the Nursing program at VIU, was a 2013 PacWest Academic Excellence Award winner … she is one of four Comox Valley players on the Mariners … others are forward Brooke Bell (Highland), forward Katie Rodgers (G.P. Vanier) and defender Sarah Meredith (G.P. Vanier) …
– Pacific West