The annual soccer dance of spring 鈥� the Province Cup 鈥� opens this weekend for the four qualified Island men鈥檚 A teams.
The draw, however, didn鈥檛 do Island regular-season champion and sa国际传媒 fourth-seed Saanich Fusion any favours. Saanich hosts the defending Province Cup-champion Surrey United Firefighters on Sunday at 2 p.m. at Tyndall Park.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a tough draw. We鈥檙e playing the holders, a team that includes ex national-team and Whitecaps players,鈥� said Fusion coach Steph Steiner.
Yet, Fusion is probably the most sizzling Island side going into the Province Cup, having swept Jackson Cup-champion Bays United Liquor Plus twice by 4-2 scores in the final two regular-season games to win the league crown with a 15-1-2 record.
鈥淲e鈥檙e going into Cup play on a high and with confidence,鈥� said Steiner, who has received offensive production this season from Paddy Nelson and Cooper Barry. 鈥淲e feel good about having a long run.鈥�
Taking a page from basketball, Fusion presses all over the pitch looking for turnovers.
鈥淲e like to pressure on defence and then counter quickly with our skillful attackers,鈥� said Steiner.
Cowichan FC is home this afternoon at 2 at Sherman Road Park in Duncan against the Fraser Valley champion Port Moody Lordco Gunners.
The Lakehill Reds, the upstart Second Division side that made it all the way to the Jackson Cup final, continues its quixotic quest today across the strait in a longshot bid to upend Province Cup top-seed Langley FC at Aldergrove Community Park.
Jackson Cup champion Bays United swings into action Sunday at noon on the Hampton Park turf against the Coquitlam Metro-Ford Wolves, an annual power from the Lower Mainland.
The Province Cup women鈥檚 A opening-round brackets this weekend include an all-Island matchup between Saanich Fusion and Victoria Athletics. The Peninsula Co-op Highlanders open against the CMFSC Xtreme.
Castaways FC and Prospect Lake have earned first-round byes, with the Lakers meeting the winner of the Peninsula-CMFSC game next week and Castaways awaiting the winner of a first-round bracket featuring Richmond FC and Langley United Action.
Province Cup action also includes play in Masters (Over-35) and U-21 divisions.
In Masters, UVic Alumni hosts an all-Island matchup today at 4 p.m. against Tony Grover Cup-champs Castaways Juniors, while Gorge FC Backfit hosts Columbus FC on Sunday at 2 p.m. at Hampton Park.
All the sa国际传媒 championship Province Cup games will be played May 11 at Westhills Stadium in Langford.
