When brothers Tyler and Jordie Hughes were kids playing soccer, dad John Hughes was always there on the sidelines. When both became all-conference players in the NCAA at Coastal Carolina, their dad would fly down to watch and be supportive. The same when Tyler signed pro contracts in Europe.
Both brothers advanced out of the Sweet 16 and into the quarter-finals of the men鈥檚 A Province Cup 鈥� Tyler Hughes with Cowichan FC and Island League-leading scorer Jordie Hughes with Bays United Liquor Plus.
But for the first time in their careers, their dad wasn鈥檛 there to see it.
John Hughes, long a member of the Island soccer community as a player and administrator, passed away last month.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been tough,鈥� said Tyler Hughes, whose overtime cross was headed in by Bram Taylor in overtime to give Cowichan FC a dramatic 1-0 victory over Pitt Meadows in the Province Cup opener at Sherman Road Park in Duncan.
鈥淢y dad watched us play all our lives. And I remember as a kid going down to Hampton Park to watch him play for Gorge. The Island soccer community has been very supportive and rallied around us. My own [Cowichan FC] team has dedicated the rest of the season to my dad.鈥�
Cowichan took its chances well.
鈥淎t this level, against this competition at this stage of the season in Cup play, you know you are not going to get 12 good chances, you are only going to get three or four. And we buried one of our chances in extra time,鈥� noted Tyler Hughes.
Jordie Hughes, too, will be advancing after his Jackson Cup-champion Bays United blanked Coquitlam Metro Ford 2-0.
Cowichan FC will be away next week to top-ranked Langley FC in the quarter-finals, while Bays is away to the second-seed Delta United Hurricanes.
Island regular-season champion Saanich Fusion and the upstart Lakehill Reds weren鈥檛 as fortunate in the men鈥檚 A Cup as both fell in the Sweet 16.
The defending Province Cup champion Surrey United Firefighters withstood a withering attack by the fourth-seed Fusion to hold tight for a 1-0 victory Sunday at Tyndall Field.
The Second Division Reds鈥� Cinderella run ended with a gamely fought 1-0 loss away to top seeded Langley.
Meanwhile, the Victoria Athletics blanked Saanich Fusion 2-0 in an all-Island fixture at Tyndall Field in a women鈥檚 Province A Cup opener and advance to meet the Surrey United dynasty in the next round.
Castaways and Prospect Lake, which drew opening-round draws in the women鈥檚 A Cup, saw their dance cards filled. Castaways will meet Richmond FC, 3-0 victors over Langley United Action. Prospect Lake will meet CMFSC Xtreme, which defeated the Peninsula Co-op Highlanders 2-1 at UVic鈥檚 turf field.
A pair of all-Island matchups highlighted the Sweet 16 of the Doug Day Province Cup men鈥檚 Under-21 tournament over the weekend.
Westcastle United defeated Bays United 3-1 at Goudy Field in Langford. Westcastle advances to play Guildford FC, which upset North Coquitlam United 1-0, in the quarter-finals. The Mid-Island Highlanders, the third seed, defeated Gorge FC 3-1 in Ladysmith and will play West Van FC in the next round.
The big weekend for the Highlanders organization continued with the Highlanders Prospects scoring a 1-0 clean sheet against Langley FC at Goudy Field to set up a quarter-final date against the PMSC Lordco Gunners.
Second-ranked Metro Ford Junior Wolves blanked SFFC Titans from the Island 2-0.
The Province Cup finals for all categories will be played May 11 at Langford鈥檚 Westhills Stadium.
