Sports

Big weekend for CBS Strikers in fight for Challenge Cup

By Craig Westcott

They know they’re in the playoffs for the Challenge Cup, but the standings are so tight, it’s not clear yet which team the CBS S’Pairs Optical Strikers will play in the opening round.

That will be decided this weekend as the final regular season games in the six-team league are played. CBS is hosting two games at Topsail Pitch this weekend, the first against the Feildians at 7 p.m. on Saturday evening, the second against top dogs Holy Cross at 1 p.m. on Sunday afternoon.

“It’s been a good season thus far,” said team captain Erick Mathiasen. “There’s been lots of ups and downs, lot of injuries, and it’s been a tough go, but we’re finding our footing and finally clinched a spot in the playoffs.”

But it hasn’t been easy. The team has been plagued with injuries all season.

“It’s an unfortunate part of the season,” Mathiasen admitted. “It’s a lot of games in a very short period of time at times, and it becomes heavy on the body, especially when it comes to non-professional athletes. If you are going to go play maybe five games in one week, it becomes a little tough. So, yes, we’ve been dealing with a lot.”

The injuries have meant the team has not had a secure starting core of 11 regulars on the field every game. That has meant lots of movement back and forth from the bench and the associated learning time of playing with new partners, while also seeing the more experienced players sometimes having to switch roles.

“I don’t think we’ve started the same team for two games in a row,” said Mathiasen. “So, it’s been rough in that sense.”

Mathiasen too plays a variety of positions, depending on what’s needed for any particular game, including centreback, holding midfielder, attacking mid-fielder and striker. “That’s part of not having all the bodies around,” said the 31-year-old. ” I have to go plug the holes.”
But the squad has hope, and grit.

“We’re pretty solid defensively,” said Mathiasen. “And we try to attack with our speed. We try to counter with quick transitions.”

But is there a realistic hope of knocking off Holy Cross, which has run up a 17 wins and one loss record this season, with only one goal scored against them?
“We hope so,” said Mathiasen, laughing. “They are very strong this year. But we still have competed against them and have challenged them, and we hope we’re going to do that in the final as well. That’s the plan, at least.”

Some of the injured players, meanwhile, are trickling back to the bench.

“We’re hoping one of our key players comes through by the final weekend,” said Mathiasen, referring to mid-winger Ryan Earles, who hails from CBS. “He had a ligament tear in his ankle, I believe. He’s been out for a month now. We’re hoping he’s going to be back for the 16th and 18th (finals and championship)… But the majority of the players are back. Some have bothers and all that, but we should be good to go when the final weekend comes.”

Aside from Holy Cross’ dominance, things have been tight this season, competition wise and in the standings. Going into this weekend, all teams have played 18 games. The Feildians have 10 wins, four losses and four draws; CBS has six wins, seven losses and five ties; Paradise has five wins, eight losses and five ties; St. Lawrence has four wins, 10 losses and four draws; and at the bottom of the standings, Mount Pearl has one win, 13 losses and four ties. The standings fight this weekend will be between CBS and Paradise to see who can lock in third place to avoid playing Holy Cross in the opening playoff match, and instead face second place Feildians. That will be the best hope of surviving to play what will likely be Holy Cross in the league championship on August 18.

“The Feildians secured a lot of their points early in the season,” noted Mathiasen. “They had a really strong beginning and that’s why they clinched second (place) fairly early.”

Every other team has been struggling like CBS.

“Every other game has been a battle,” Mathiasen said. “St, Lawrence beat us, Mount Pearl beat us, Paradise has beaten us, and we have beaten them back. So, in those terms, the league has been pretty even. It’s been a battle with some games and teams with good strategies and good players… It’s been nice competition.”
Mathiasen and his teammates are hoping to see a little more fan support this weekend to give them a lift into the playoffs.

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