2018 BC Mens Provincial B Cup - Predictions, Results & Banter

[Regs]

Draw took place last week.

Adult Provincial Cup Match Days
Preliminary Round: April 13-15
Round of 16: April 20-22
Quarterfinals: April 27-29
Semifinals: May 4-6

Final: May 12 @ Burnaby Lake West

First round of games this upcoming weekend:

Apr 14 @ 4:00PM
Saanich Fusion Bandits (VISL) @ Vancouver Strikers (VMSL) - Pont Grey Turf

Date, Time & Location TBD
Graduates (RASA) @ Langley Utd Sparta (FVSL) - TBD
Gorge FC (VISL) @ Fraser Valley Blue Devils (FVSL) - TBD
Burnaby Coasters FC (BMSL) @ Langley Utd Dynamo (FVSL) - TBD
Metropolitan FC (VMSL) @ Mission SC (FVSL) - TBD
TBD @ Richmond All Blacks (RASA) - TBD
13th Legion FC (VMSL) @ TBD - TBD
Sierra FC (BMSL) @ PMO Titans (FVSL) - TBD

 

[binderdonedat]

Does anyone know why VMSL only has 6 teams competing this year instead of 7? is this a permanent thing? or is it back to 7 spots next year?

 

[dezza]

I was told the cup allocations are based on number of registered teams . If vmsl want more spots, they will have to expand to include more lower division teams

 

[Canucks4Ever]

I was told the cup allocations are based on number of registered teams . If vmsl want more spots, they will have to expand to include more lower division teams

That was certainly why I was told there was a reduction in VMSL spots for the A Cup, so it stands to reason that this logic would hold true for the B Cup as well. The extra spots in last season's A and B Cups were awarded to the defending champion's league (aka the VMSL). This "bonus" spot is now a permanent spot for the VISL in the A Cup. The allocations for the A cup were based on the number of teams registered on "A" Forms and thus, technically, with a chance to qualify for the Provincials. The rub there is that includes Division 1 teams (Division 2 teams in the VISL) and that skews the number. The VMSL has the most teams on A Forms with two divisions of 12 for a total of 24 eligible teams and are allocated 6 spots in the Provincial Cup. In the FVSL, even though their Premier division has only 8 teams competing, they do have 10 teams in Division 1 to prop up their numbers, giving them a total of 18 eligible teams. The have historically received 5 berths to the Provincial cup because they used to have a 10 team Premier division and therefore a total of twenty eligible teams. However now that they are down to just 18, you can understand why the VISL was upset given that they have 20 teams in their top two flights, known as Division 1 and Division 2, each with 10 teams, but were only allocated 4 spots in the Provincial Cup. Therefore the additional "bonus" spot was allocated to the VISL permanently, much to the chagrin of the VMSL. Given all this I would suggest that it is highly likely the VMSL pushes to have one of the FVSL's spots, at the very least, changed to a rotating "bonus" spot, if not allocated to them on a permanent basis. That should provide some fireworks at next season's allocation meeting!

I have to think this is how the B Cup spots were redistributed as well. Based on the draw, 21 of 24 teams are accounted for on the site. Two of the remaining teams are Coquitlam and Greencaps who were settling who would be the seeded team this weekend in their cup final. Based on last season's allocations, I am assuming the one remaining spot is for the winner of the BMSL's League Cup. If Burnaby Gunners win, they would be in, if already qualified League Champions Imperio Calcio win then, presumably, fourth placed Bacardi FC would qualify.

That would put this year's allocations at:
VMSL 6
FVSL 7
VISL 4
RASA 3
BMSL 4

Meaning that both the VMSL (via the "bonus" defending champion's spot) and RASA are -1 spot each and the FVSL is +2 versus last season.

Teams registered on "B" Forms in each league:
VMSL 57
FVSL 60
VISL 35
RASA 22
BMSL 31

With only 22 teams it make sense that the RASA was deducted a spot and with 60 registered teams that spot definitely deserved to go to the Valley. Not sure there was a need to remove the rotating "bonus" spot, but, presumably, BC Soccer only wants permanent spots moving forward. If that is the case then it would be a toss up between the FVSL and the VMSL for who gets that spot and, given that the Valley had three more teams registered I guess that tipped the scales. Again, another that I am sure will be hotly contested an next year's seeding meeting!

Hopefully that clears things up a little bit. Or maybe it will just muddy the waters further...

 

[soccer8]

Is there any fixtures for this weekend available?

 

[4thplacetrophy]

Is there any fixtures for this weekend available?

Our game (Mission) vs Metropolitan is 8pm Friday at the Mission sports park.

 

[Canucks4Ever]

The Provincial B Cup is the only Cup with a 24 team field. As such, we get an appetizer round before the other cups begin play next weekend! It will take five wins on the spin to lift the trophy for those playing this weekend. Fear not however, as defending champions Vancouver Greencaps came through the preliminary round in last year's competition and, in fact, will have to do so again if they with to retain their crown.

Standard Disclaimer:
For those not familiar with my column, I am largely just pulling this stuff out of thin air. I try to find whatever information is readily available online, but ultimately I am just trying to generate some interest in local soccer in BC. If I have omitted or overlooked facts that you consider relevant to your team or league, it's not done intentionally...get over it...

Completely Baseless Predictions
Men’s B Keith Millar Provincial Cup
Preliminary Round:

Langley Utd. Sparta (FVSL) v Graduates (RASA)
Graduates finished in fourth place in an eight team Richmond Adult Soccer Association that from all apperances has taken a slight step back in terms of quality in recent seasons. Gone are the days of the All Black perenially dragging the league into relevance and, with a reduction in teams overall this season, the league saw one of their birth for this Provincial Cup competition taken away. As a result, Graduates only get in by virtue of their League Cup win over League Title winners West Coast FC at the expense of AC Richmond who pipped them to third place in the table. They will be up against a veteran Langley Sparta group who were one of several teams competing for the Fraser Valley Soccer League's Division 2 title right up until the final weeks of the season. Without any major goal scoring threats among the roster for Graduates, Owen Sinclair led the way with nine goals, the Richmond lads will need to rely on their successful experience in knockout competition already this season if they are to have any hope of advancing. With a trek across the Lower Mainland for a Saturday night kickoff in Langley on the agenda, I do not fancy their chances at all against a Sparta group who know that winning this match earns them another date with an RASA side in the next round.

Vancouver Strikers (VMSL) v Saanich Fusion Bandits (VISL)
Saanich Fusion Bandits are actually the Saanich Fusion Colonial Counter Top Bandits, as the Vancouver Island Soccer League continues to demonstrate its ability to entice all means of corporate sponsors. It is quite the mouthful, so we will stick with the shorter version, and the Bandits will have their work cut out for them if they are hoping to make off with a win against a strong Vancouver Strikers side. With all the top seeds already advanced without a preliminary fixture, this tie is likely the Match of the Round. Strikers will be disappointed to have been the third wheel all season in what came down to a two horse race for the title in the Vancouver Metro Soccer League's Division 2A between Coquitlam Metro Ford Lupi and 13th Legion. Overall it was a good bounce back season for Strikers who slumped last season after being narrowly edged out for promotion the year before by Rino's Fury. The Vancouver boys are the only team so far this season to defeat the 2A Champions, CMF Lupi, and they also boast 2A's top goal scorer in Gavin Lytton who netted 17 times in 20 games. Saanich are no slouches though, after losing out on the VISL's Division 3B title on goal difference alone. They certainly do not boast a goal scoring threat the like of Lytton however, as their top scorer was was Chris Fougner who notched six times over their 15 game season. Add in the always important travel factor and I will make Vancouver Strikers clear favourites in this one.

Fraser Valley Blue Devils (FVSL) v Gorge FC (VISL)
Vancouver Island Soccer League Division 3B winners Gorge FC will look to overcome the travel factor when they trek out to far side of Abbotsford for a midday kickoff on Sunday. Blue Devils look to be really trying to press their home field advantage in moving from their regular 4pm start time. The Victoria based Gorge will either need to make the 7am departure from Schwartz Bay or else come over the night before. Perhaps Blue Devils are feeling like they could use every advantage they are able to muster after a less than dazzling season. The Fraser Valley boys burst onto the scene last year, winning the Presidents Cup as a Division 3 side during their promotion campaign. Despite their clear ability to play at this level, they clearly experienced a step up in competition and it showed in their results. A seventh place finish and a negative goal difference means that they only get into the Provincial Cup for a second straight season thanks to the Fraser Valley Soccer League being awarded two extra births and because Surrey United were unable to secure the win they needed in either of their final two match in order to leapfrog the Blue Devils in the table. That being said, Frasey Valley do boast the league's Golden Boot runner up among their ranks in Harman Ghatora, with 11 goals to his name on the year. This one is a toss up, but if Gorge can get their travelling sorted out I like their chances of a win here. In fun news, the travelling does not get any easier in this section of the draw with the winner off to Powel River.

Langley Dynamo (FVSL) v Burnaby Coasters (BMSL)
Long time Fraser Valley Soccer League stalwarts Langley Dynamo were just barely runners up in the FVSL Division 2 title race. Abbotsford United won the title with a 2-1 win over Surrey United in the final fixture on the FVSL Div. 2 schedule. Still a fantastic season for the Dynamo and, in particular, Cameron Whitters, who won the Golden Boot with 17 goals in 20 games. They will look to continue their successful campaign with a Provincial B Cup run and the draw sets up rather nicely with their quarter void of VMSL teams as well as multiple top seeds. Instead they open against Burnaby Coasters from the Burnaby Men's Soccer League with the winner facing off against the Abbotsford Red Devils, who were sixth in the FVSL's Division 2. Burnaby Coasters were a distant third place in the BMSL's First Division, well off the pace of league leaders, and perrenial B Cup participants, Impero Calcio and Sierra FC. It is the inaugural appearance in this post season competition for the Coasters and they will likely be introduced to a steep learning curve. They do have a goal scoring threat in Golden Boot runner up Justice Coady, who found the twine 12 times over 15 games, but assuming that Langely can keep him under wraps, they should have a relatively straight forward day at the office.

Mission SC (FVSL) v Metropolitan (VMSL)
After being relegated from the Division 1 of the Vancouver Metro Soccer League, Metropolitan, or "Students" as they are often referred to as because of their long time moniker "UBC Metropolitan", were unable to bounce directly back up, finishing second to the defending Provincial B Cup Champions, Vancouver Greencaps. This comes despite boasting the most goals scored in Division 2, with 60 in 22 games, and the fewest conceded, having only been breached on 19 occasions. While this is obviously not the overall outcome Metropolitan would have been looking for at the beginning of the campaign, they will now look to take a page out of the Greencaps book and win the B Cup before regrouping ahead of another promotion challenge come the fall. Their first hurdle will be the always competitive and always classy Mission SC from the Fraser Valley Soccer League. The Eastern Valley boys hung in there in the title race for most of the season, but ultimately dropped to a mid-table fifth place finish. A Friday night jaunt from the Westen most part of the Lower Mainland out towards the endowment lands at UBC all the way out to Mission will be a hoof, but assuming Students can field their best side, they have to be favourites to progress.

Richmond All Blacks (RASA) v Vancouver Greencaps (VMSL)
Vancouver Greencaps begin their Provincial B Cup title defense against a club with pedigree in this competition, the Richmond All Blacks. Recent seasons, however, have seen the All Blacks fade from prominence as a contender in this tournament as it appears the quality of the Richmond Adult Soccer Association may be in flux currently. The All Blacks finished as runners up to West Coast FC in the RASA Premier Division, but they did win the season ending playoff competition via a 3-2 Extra Time victory over Jugadores CF which ensured their participation in the B Cup. Unfortunately, they have drawn arguably the toughest opponent possible competing in the Preliminary Round: Vancovuer Metro Soccer League Division 2B title winners, Division 2 Cup runners up and defending Provincial Cup Champions, Vancouver Greencaps. The Greencaps will not be in this tournament again next year (or at least there first team will not, however their second team has earned promotion from Division 3 to Division 2) as they will be looking to survive in Division 1 of the VMSL, but they will certainly fancy taking keeping the trophy in their case for another season in the meantime. Greencaps were dominant, losing only once over their 22 game season and scoring a whopping 55 goals. Perhaps more impressive is that their offense came by committee with three players, Gary Mulvaney, Patrick Fitzgerald and Shane Coleman, each netting eight goals. There will be no single target to key on for the All Blacks who will mount a spirited challenge, but a certainly clear underdogs.

Bacardi FC (BMSL) v 13th Legion (VMSL)
It was a long wait for Bacardi FC who had to be patient to see if their fourth place league finish in the Burnaby Men's Soccer League would be enough to earn them a ticket to this post season dance. In the end, league title winners Impero Calcio did the triple which included wining the League Cup 2-0 over the Burnaby Gunners meaning that Bacardi were back in the show. It will be a chance for redemption for Bacardi after a complete fiasco last season that saw them forced into forfeiting their match with Metro Athletic Burnaby. The Rum boys had a teammates wedding the same time as the fixture was scheduled and Metro refused to reschedule. Now Bacardi will get a chance to perform on the Provincial Cup stage, but they have not been handed an easy task. It has been yet another season of frustration for 13th Legion who came out of nowhere to surprise everyone last season and seemed to have the Division 2 title and accompanying promotion to Division 1 in hand until fixture congestion caused them to run out of steam down the stretch and trip up. This season they were bridesmaids again after trying desperately to keep pace with upstart Coquitlam Metro Ford Lupi who had just come up from Division 3. In the end, Lupi would win both head to head meetings between the teams and that would be the difference in the final standings. As nice a story as Bacardi are, the BMSL was a two team competition this year between Sierra and Calcio with everyone else well back. Conversely, 13th Legion have established themselves as a Vancovuer Metro Soccer League Division 2 powerhouse and should have little trouble advancing to the next round.

Port Moody Titans (FVSL) v Sierra FC (BMSL)
Port Moody were another in a hotly contested Fraser Valley Soccer League Division 2 campaign that fell just short of the league title. The Titans finished third, a mere four points back of first placed Abbotsford. Disappointing for the team with the best defensive record in the league, conceding only 20 goals over 20 games. Despite this, they only posted five clean sheets, which indicates that they a prone to giving up a goal per game. As for Sierra, they certainly can commiserate about falling just short of first place as they missed out on the Burnaby Men's League title by an even slimmer two point margin. Sierra and Impero Calcio ran away with the league, finishing fully 25 points clear of the chasing pack, but in the end Sierra were forced to settle for silver, losing the league title to Impero as well as the Rudolph Cup on penalties. BMSL teams do not have an enviable record in the Provincial Cup with most falling well short of the level of competition in the big three leagues. The smart money here is on the Tri Cities Boys, however, where's the fun in picking only favourites? I'll make this one my Upset Special of the round and say that Sierra ride a man of the match performance from leading scorer Luca Bozzetto, who had eight goals this year, and stun their local neighbours from just down the Barnet Highway.

 

[4thplacetrophy]

Mission 1-0 Metropolitan

 

[4thplacetrophy]

Mission 1-0 Metropolitan

Tough battle last night for us. If not for some poor finishing in the first half from Metropolitan the game could have been over by half time. Second half was much more back and forth, and then around the 60 mark we got a goal from a free kick being whipped in, glancing header that their keeper saved, with our winger tapping in the rebound. We had a couple of breakaway chances after that to add to the lead from counter attacks but for the most part it was a back to the wall defensive job. They hit a crossbar and down that bounced less than a foot away from the goal line and out deep into injury time. Tough result that we ground out, and now following up we get a tough trip to Metro Ford Lupi in the next round.

Good luck to all other teams playing this week, especially Valley teams

 

[soccer8]

Welldone mission metro are a good team

 

[R-Tee]

Congrats mission

 

[Dude]

Just checking in to say come on you fcuking Dynamo!

 

[Canucks4Ever]

BC Soccer showing All Blacks win 2-0 over Champions Greencaps. That's well played.

Also showing Strikers over Saanich 1-0.

 

[machel]

Mission 1-0 Metropolitan

That’s why we play the games! Huge upset!

BC Soccer showing All Blacks win 2-0 over Champions Greencaps. That's well played.

Also showing Strikers over Saanich 1-0.

Can’t ever rule out the All Blacks. They’ve been here before and have a tradition of making deep runs in this competition. Impressive win.

Saanich has made a decent name for themselves over the past couple seasons in this tournament. Can’t take them lightly and with a 1-0 loss against a decent VMSL side and their in-form striker speaks well of the health of the game on the island.

Can’t wait to take in some of the action later on in this competition. Good luck to all!

 

[BoldTurkey]

Just checking in to say come on you fcuking Dynamo!

Off to a great start with a 3-1 win over a game Coasters side

 

[penguin]

That’s why we play the games! Huge upset!



Can’t ever rule out the All Blacks. They’ve been here before and have a tradition of making deep runs in this competition. Impressive win.

Saanich has made a decent name for themselves over the past couple seasons in this tournament. Can’t take them lightly and with a 1-0 loss against a decent VMSL side and their in-form striker speaks well of the health of the game on the island.

Can’t wait to take in some of the action later on in this competition. Good luck to all!

Saanich forfeited Friday afternoon, so hopefully that doesn’t speak to the health of the game on the island.

 

[machel]

Saanich forfeited Friday afternoon, so hopefully that doesn’t speak to the health of the game on the island.

Shitty form with the forfeit. Both teams must be disappointed with that.

 

[Canucks4Ever]

Big time poor form with the FFT

 

[Machoman]

Sparta 1 - graduates 3 . First FVSL team knocked out .

 

[Canucks4Ever]

RASA on the rampage...