SS ports EDITOR PUNEET DHAMI THE VOICE, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2013 8 Men hope to repeat as champs The men’s basketball sea- son starts this November and they’re hoping to keep their PacWest title By JESSE LAM pions, Langara Falcons hope to repeat that success in 2014. Falcons’ men’s basketball coach Paul Eberhardt aims to use last year’s championship tactic, as he believes the team can repeat another run to the championship. “It will be a challenge, but we have a lot of players back,” said Eberhardt. “I expect that we’ll challenge for the top of the league again.” “We definitely have the pieces to win again this year,” said guard and forward, Matt Madewan. “We picked up about five new guys too, so we defi- nitely have the pieces to win the whole thing again.” Eberhardt worries that last year’s success may also affect the team’s mentality in the game. “The one thing we have to be aware of, especially for the returning guys, is not be complacent,” said Eberhardt. “The league has gotten tough.” Jesse Jeffer’s was last season’s all- star, and is no longer with the team. “Jesse went to Trinity Western so that will be tough to fill.” said Eber- hardt. “Our frontline will be a bit small this year, but I expect guys like Jitinder [Lohcham], who’s a fourth-year guy, and Garrett Ling-Lee to step in and play a few more minutes for us so we should be fine.” Coach Eberhardt and Madewan believe Vancouver Island University is the one team they have to watch out for. “They are returning with Bran- don Jones,” said Medewan. “He was Games the MVP when they won nationals basketball too, he’s a special player, they’re def- Te 2013 PacWest defending cham- MEN ss . initely our biggest OCT. 4 ran 8 competition. p.m. at Langara Colle Langara Falcons ge. ; will be the team to OCcT.5 beat this season in Game time TBD at the PacWest after Langara College. being last year’s champion. OCT. 13 The first game is 1:30 p.m, at Langara on October 4 at Lang- College. ara College at 8 p.m.. Falcons trample Eagles TYLER HOOPER photo A Langara Falcons player swoops in for a kick against the Kwantlen University Eagles at New- ton Athletic Park on September 25, 2013. Women and men’s soccer teams defeat Kwantlen in torrential rainfall on Saturday By TYLER HOOPER he Langara Falcons men and women’s soccer teams both won their games on Saturday Sept. 28 at Newton Athletic Park against the Kwantlen Poly- technic University Eagles. The women took the field at noon, de- feating the Eagles 3-1. Forward Amrit Berar scored two goals and Olivia Kappeli scored one. The women’s team played a strong first half but lost some momentum in the second, although not enough to lose their lead. The men took the field at 2 p.m. to relentless rainfall and a_ slippery playing field. The Eagles put pressure on the Fal- cons early, scoring the first goal 16 min- utes into the match. Four minutes later Falcons forward Brett Wiens tied the game. At 39 minutes midfielder Mynor Campos Jr. scored, giving the Falcons a 2-1 lead heading into halftime. During the second half the Falcons got two quick goals, a second by Campos Jr. and another by midfield- er Carlos Marquez. Kwantlen managed a second goal, but Falcons midfielder Brody Kirk- ley-Fech scored in the dying minutes of the game making the final score 5-2 Falcons. “We started off a bit slow I think, but then we picked it up in the second half,” said coach Steve Lucovic who was fill- ing in for head coach Marc Rizzardo. “Losing their composure didn’t help them out, it opened their weak- nesses up and we took advantage of it,” said Lucovic. “We worked hard, from what I saw we knocked the ball around well, kept composure and finished our chances,” said midfielder Andrew Hauser. Assistant coach Rob Dattilo said that the Falcons were able to absorb the game plan and capitalize on their chances. Both teams played Douglas College on Sunday, the women’s team won their game 2-1 while the men lost 2-1. Both teams play Quest University this weekend and finals are scheduled for the end of the month. Falcons basketball team starts 2014 season The women’s basketball team has high hopes for season after recruting two university transfer players to the Falcons By AMY JONES ketball team is shooting to reach the PacWest provincial playoffs this season with two new university- transfer players. Team Coach Mike Evans hopes to im- prove the team’s standing from their seventh place finish last season. He blames it on poor play early in the sea- son. “My approach is one practice at a Te: Langara Falcons women’s bas- time, one week at a time, one game at a time and not look beyond that,” Evans said. “After that obviously our goal would change based on where we're sit- ting.” The team has been practicing six days a week with their newest rookies and two transfer players, forward The- resa Jacobse and point guard Karen Li. Jacobse previously played for the University of Waterloo. She is aiming to win at the provincial level for a shot at nationals. “It’s going to be very intense but fun at the same time, it looks like [the team] has a lot of potential,” said Jacobse. Li played for the University of Leth- bridge team last season. She is already settling into the Falcons squad. “The team is great compared to last year,” said Li. “I feel like it’s a family, I've known most of them previously when we played club teams and train- ing during the summer.” This season, fourth year player Rhea Silvestri, is looking forward to what the team can do with their new recruits. “We have a whole bunch of new play- ers this year so we’re going to get used to each other,” said Silvestri. “I think they'll be great additions to us, I’m ex- cited to see.” “They will definitely add a lot,” said Evans. “They have more experience, they’re good players, they’re smart, and lot of those things you look for.” The season starts in November, until then the team will spend the month of October playing exhibition games. First game kicks off at Langara against Kwantlen on Nov. 1 at 6 p.m. and against Capilano University on Nov. 8. > | AMY JONES photo Fourth-year player Rhea Silvestri is excited to watch the team shape up for the upcoming basketball season.