Max Tagesen has led the Quest University men’s soccer team to its best season in school history.
Making their first-ever appearance at the PACWEST Provincial Championships, the host Kermodes capped a memorable 2014 campaign with a 2-0 victory over the Kwantlen Polytechnic University Eagles in the bronze medal game. Tagesen sealed the result when the first-year Hugh Boyd graduate converted a counterattack opportunity in the late stages of the second half.
The goal came with Quest playing with just 10 players after an earlier altercation resulted in a red card for Oscar Bonilla. First-year forward and McRoberts graduate Justin Turner-Pearce was named Kwantlen’s player of the game.
The Kermodes came ever-so-close to reaching the provincial championship game and a trip to the nationals, falling in penalty kicks to No. 1 seed Vancouver Island University in the semi-finals.
With a raucous hometown crowd urging them on, the Kermodes battled the Mariners to a 2-2 draw at the end of regulation time.
Tagesen put his team on even terms when he curled a shot to the top corner in the dying minutes of the second half. VUI prevailed 4-3 in penalties.
A week earlier, Quest secured the fourth and final spot in provincials with a 3-0 home field win over the Langara Falcons. The Kermodes took a 1-0 advantage into the final 45 minutes and Tagesen went to work again, notching a pair of insurance goals.
Quest’s line-up also featured first-year defender Theo Lorenz, a graduate of McMath secondary.
All was not lost for a couple of Richmond products in the Langara line-up as Jordan Gillies (McMath) and Taj Sangara (RC Palmer) were named to the PAC West Conference All-Star Team based on their outstanding play in the regular season.
Corner kicks...
In women’s action, five Richmond players helped Lanagra to a second place finish at provincials. The Falcons edged Douglas College (2-1) in extra time to reach the final before dropping a 1-0 decision to Vancouver Island University.
Midfielders Lauren Tasaka (McMath) and Alyssa Graeme (Steveson-London) were named conference all-stars. Other local players include: Tessa Tasaka (McMath), Natalie Long (Richmond High) and Ravneet Bhatti (Cambie).
The Falcons will now prepare for the upcoming CCAA National Championships in Medicine Hat.
Both the Langara men and women’s teams played their home games at the Hugh Boyd Oval this season.
