Down 3-1 against Nanaimo United FC at one point, Powell River Villa FC came charging back to win 6-3 on the road in Vancouver Island Soccer League Division 2 play on Sunday, December 9.
Villa fell behind 2-0 in the first half before Jake Kenmuir scored his first of two goals. The first 45 minutes ended with Nanaimo ahead 3-1.
In the second half, Villa poured it on, scoring five unanswered goals. The six-goal total was the largest offensive output of the year and account for one third of all the goals Villa has scored so far this season.
With four new players added to his roster in the last two weeks, head coach Chris McDonough said slotting them into the lineup was an adjustment. But once the pieces fit, it was game over for Nanaimo.
“We really regrouped and came on in the second half and just completely dominated the game,” said McDonough.
Villa scored three second half goals within six minutes., with Kye Taylor, Kenmuir and Niko Cristante finding the back of the net.
Caleb Vallance scored Villa’s last goal on a penalty at the 90-minute mark, the 15-year-old’s first in the VISL.
“He got taken down in the box right at the end of the game and put in a really nice penalty,” said McDonough. “It's good to get that first goal for him. He's been steadily improving every game and getting more used to the men's game.”
Nanaimo was outgunned and outrun by Villa in the second half.
“They just probably ran out of gas towards the end,” said McDonough. “The game got a little chippy about halfway through the second half and after that we really poured it on.”
He added his team showcased its ability and character in the game.
Kenmuir’s two goals gives him five in Villa’s 13 games thus far to lead the team. Taylor has scored four times.
With a five-point lead on nine wins, a tie and three losses for 28 points, Villa is comfortably sitting in first place in Division 2, a position it has held all season.
