May 9 Home Game in Review: the NUFC Youth to Semi-Pro Connection

“I’ve been enjoying my first year playing for NUFC with all the girls from different places,” the BCPL midfielder Asuka Okabe told us before the ladies’ match this past Saturday. From Tokyo, Japan, Asuka plays for VIU and NUFC’s women’s Premier team during the winter seasons. “It’s been really cool to see how big of a community Nanaimo United has. All of the support is something that separates us from the other teams,” added Adam Tsang. Tsang is from the mainland and played for Burnaby last year. 

Tsang is right - that community support is something we are incredibly proud of at NUFC and it was showcased in full force on Saturday at the games. The throngs of excited kids participating in our halftime crossbar challenge and getting their jerseys and player cards signed after the men’s game, the youth tier 1 BCSPL girls players attending the game with posters to cheer on their coaches who happen to be BCPL players, and the number of fans that filled the new stands as the evening went on - the atmosphere was something else. Thank you!

Some young spectators - ice cream and player cards!

Women’s Game Recap + Meet Chloe Farragher

Our ladies’ game was a goal-scoring showdown. Burnaby FC may have won the first half, but our ladies won the second. After being down 3-0 at halftime, Camryn Curts and Ava Alexander put us on the scoreboard. Sophia Montpetit, a U17 BCPL call-up player, assisted Camryn’s goal - less than 10 minutes after being substituted on. Talk about a power sub and one of our youngest players!

From left to right: Captain Camryn Curts, Sophia Montpetit, Keana Kirby

Speaking of call-ups, on the bench this weekend was goalkeeper Keana Kirby, another BCSPL youth player. Chloe Farragher, one of her teammates, has also played some minutes this season and has trained with the team, but is unfortunately out with injury. At U16, Chloe is the youngest player ever to have been rostered on our BCPL team and has been an awesome addition to the team.

Chloe Farragher has been playing for Nanaimo United since she was 6 years old. “I’m very excited and grateful to play with these girls who have so much experience and who I’ve looked up to for so long now,” Chloe told us. 

Just a few years ago, I was one of the girls that was walking out with the starting line-up. I remember walking out with Mary Nicholls. Now, being able to play with them is so cool and I’m looking forward to learning from them about how to play at this level.

From left to right: Chloe Farragher, Mary Nicholls, Mary and Sophia

Men’s Game Recap

Goalscoring machine, Charlie Smith, went into the Burnaby FC game “really looking forward to battling against my home club. We had a great game against them a couple weeks ago so I hope we can repeat!” 

From left to right: Charlie Smith, Hatim El Azhari, Felipe Morales Moya

Felipe Morales Moya scored early in the first half and the lads worked hard to hold onto that lead. As women’s player Erin Jensen told us in an interview the other week, being one up on a team when there is lots of time left in the game is the scariest score. 

Goalkeeper Michael Heppelle was on fire on Saturday and had quite the cheer squad of youngsters in the stands. He and fellow keeper, Ethan Lunny (another life-long Nanaimo United player just graduating from youth levels), are goalkeeper coaches for NUFC and their athletes were very excited to watch them in action and get their autographs after the game. Heppelle made an incredible free kick save near the end of the match (stay tuned for our game highlights reel on Instagram to check out the save) but Burnaby managed to take advantage of the scramble in the box and scored in the 94th minute to tie up the game. 

From left to right: Michael Heppelle, Captain Fergus Hall, Ashton Bryant

“Lots of positives from today,” noted Captain Fergus Hall, “we conceded right at the end there which was unfortunate but almost won that game. We’re looking to build on that and continue to keep getting good results, especially here at home in the second half of the season.”

It was a great night of soccer and community!

What’s next?

The squads hit the road again next week - they’re off to play the Whitecaps and Rise FC Academies away. Next home game: Sunday May 31!