8 Ss Men ready for strong season Falcons hoping that up- coming season opener will set up another good year By TAMMY ENGLISH ball team starts its 2013-14 season on Friday, eager to repeat their success last year: A 20-1 regular-sea- son record, Langara’s first provincial championship since 1999, and a third- place finish at the national champion- ships. All after just one year of guidance from coach Paul Eberhardt, whose un- deniable impact on the Falcons was recognized with Coach of the Year awards from both PacWest and the Ca- nadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA). Eberhardt knows Langara will be the favourite in Friday’s season opener against Douglas College, but he’s not taking it lightly. “Douglas this year is a bit unknown because they’ve lost [a lot of] players from last year,” he said. “But I’m fairly confident that as long as we keep our focus they shouldn’t be a problem.” Eberhardt said Langara remains a deep team. Eberhardt expects return- ing point guard Brody Greig (2013 CCAA All-Canadian), Elliot Mason (a PacWest all-star), and “our big guy,” Jitinder Lohcham, to lead the team in points. “The new players we picked up are really top, top quality,” according to Eberhart. He expects Jesse Mushiana, at 68” to be - literally - a big asset to the team. Jamie Madewan, a recruit from R.C. Palmer Secondary in Rich- mond where Eberhardt also coaches and teaches high school, averaged al- most 30 points a game his senior year, and was one of just three players in the province nominated for player of the year. Eberhardt expects strong leader- ship from senior players on and off the court. “The nice thing for both [Jamie] and Jesse is that they’re coming to a team where they don’t have to immedi- ately have those [high] expectations. Because there are so many other play- ers who are good, I think they'll be able to ease into it.” Now, after two months of practices, Eberhardt said the men are anxious to play someone other than each other. “Our goal is to win it [provincial championship] again and I think that we're all very confident we can do that. It’s certainly not a given; there’s lots of good teams in the league. But I think we all believe that if we play to the best of our ability that we have a pretty good chance to repeat.” T: Langara Falcons men’s basket- Wa i TAMMY ENGLISH photo The team practices through a mix of conditioning and written tests By NADIM ROBERTS orget the Sedins. For Langara soccer fans, there are Chelsea and Amelia Brown. The identical twins, who have been playing at Langara for the past two years, ended their soccer careers with the Falcons this past weekend. Chelsea and Amelia have been play- ing on the same teams since they were six. The sisters say that on the field there is a “telepathic connection” between them. “We just know where the other one is going to be on the field,” said Chel- sea. “Sometimes there is that connec- tion,” said coach Ryan Birt. “They can understand what the other is doing be- fore other people realize.” For over a decade the twins have been confusing referees, coaches, teammates and opponents who can’t tell them apart.” There was this one game where Amelia had a yellow card because she swore at the referee,” said Chelsea, “and the ref looked at me and gave me this look ’cause he thought it was me, but it was her.” From just looking at them, there is only one small way to tell who’s who. “T have a mole on my forehead,” said Amelia, “so that’s how some people tell us apart.” Chelsea, who was born one minute before Amelia, said that she is the more “agreeable” one of the two. “Pm more sassy and rude,” said Amelia, “and I tell the truth a lot.” Birt said that like any other siblings, they compete with one another. “Sometimes they have to get us away from each other ’cause we fight,” said Amelia. Though their soccer days at Langara came to an end with losses at the pro- vincial championship, the twins hope to play together at UVic next year. NADIM ROBERTS photo Sisters Amelia (left) and Chelsea Brown are competitive, but have a connection on the field. Langara soccer sisters finish up with Falcons Competitive soccer twins’ final Falcons season ends at PacWest provincial championship 66 Sometimes there is that con- nection. They can under- stand what the other is doing before other people realize Coach Ryan Birt Langara soccer teams lose at provincials Despite a strong season finish, fearsome opponents ended playoffs for Falcons By ANDREA ANTHONY been the pitfall for the men’s and women’s soccer teams this past weekend. The men’s team lost 0-2 against Douglas College on Oct. 26, forcing them to play the bronze-medal game against Vancouver Island University (VIU) the next day. The Falcons lost 1-3 against VIU. Before the tournament, men’s coach Mare Rizzardo was confident in his team’s ability to make it to na- tionals. The Fal- con’s played five shut-out games in which no T:: much confidence may have goals were scored against them before the tournament. VALERY ROMANCHIK Forward Langara men’s Valery Roman- soccer forward chik had thought the team had a good chance of making it to nationals this year because of major changes to the team’s structure, including a new coach and new players. “The coaching is more malleable,” said Romanchik of new coach Marc Rizzardo. “He adjusts the situation a little better.” Romanchik had said he was confi- dent the Falcons could make it to na- tionals. “We can’t lose,” he said before the tournament. According to team captain Mynor Campos, this confidence is what cost them the tournament. Pac “We thought we resu said Campos. “We had too much confi- gst had it in the bag,” MEN'S SOCCER = dence.” Oct. 26 Rizzardo said the vs. Douglas team lost because the Langara - 0 pressure of playing in Douglas - 2 the provincials was too much. MEN'S SOCCER However, Rizzardo Oct. 27 said defenseman a vIU 1 Arved Poetter played vie 3 ° well and was the best Falcon of the season. WOMEN'S “He’s the most SOCCER composed player, has Oct. 26 good vision and good vs. TRU pace,” said Rizzardo. Langara 4 The women’s soc- TRU-5 cer team was also not successful at the pro- WOMEN'S vincial tournament SOCCER this past weekend. Oct. 27 The women lost 1-5 vs. UBC-O against Thompson Langara - 2 Rivers University UBC-0 -3 (TRU) on Oct. 26 and 2-3. against UBC- PROVINCIAL Okanagan the next CHAMPIONS day. Oct. 27 Women’s — coach Men - TRU Ryan Birt said TRU’s Women - TRU Alanna __ Bekkering was a big reason for the Falcons’ loss. “She’s a dangerous player,” said Birt of the all-Canadian player. Despite losing both games, Birt praised two players, Kelsa Lefebrve and Olivia Kappelli for playing well. “Kelsa did a fantastic job creating problems for the other team,” said Birt. “T don’t know what else we could have done.” Despite neither team making it to the nationals, Langara soccer fans can always look forward to next year.