Brenden Graham of the Eagles dunks against Vancouver Island University in the mens basketball game being played now at the Surrey campus. (Katie Lawrence photo)

Kevin Kokoska of the Eagles shoots a jumper against Vancouver Island University. (Katie Lawrence photo)

On a night of celebration for Kwantlen soccer fans, the school’s basketball followers didn’t have much to cheer about.

Within hours of the raising of the Kwantlen soccer team banner to celebrate their national championship bronze medal Friday, the Eagles men’s team lost 94-68 to the Vancouver Island University (VIU) Mariners in their first home game since Nov. 7.

Despite Mike Davis’ 22 points, the game high, the Eagles couldn’t find a shooting rhythm. Both Lenny Piprah and Doug Meyers also pitched in, with 15 and 11 points.

Kwantlen fell behind early, but kept the game close, down 10 after the first quarter. But VIU started to pull away in the second and led 51-32 at the half. They outscored Kwantlen 43-36 in the second half, never losing the lead during the game.

VIU’s Mike Wohlers hit six three-pointers and led his team with 20 points in the game, while Andrew Kaban contributed with 15 and Jake Hayton had 14.

With that loss, Kwantlen fell to 10-13 on the year.

Jessica Williams shoots a free throw, as the Kwantlen Eagles were in tough against Vancouver Island University, Friday night in Surrey, losing 68-59. The game was live tweeted at www.twitter.com/ChronicleOnline. (Katie Lawrence photo)

Taminder Dhaliwal drives up court against Vancouver Island University Friday.

Women’s record falls to .500

The Kwantlen Eagles women’s basketball team came up short Friday night at home as the Mariners from Vancouver Island University defeated them 68-59.

The Eagles, who were led by forward Chantelle Doerksen’s 17 points, trailed from start to finish in a game that saw no lead changes. The largest spread in points came just before the half time break when VIU enjoyed a 19-point advantage over Kwantlen.

The Mariners leading scorer was guard Katherine Pearson who poured in 17 points of her own. As a team, VIU shot 36.5 per cent from the floor and went 13 for 18 from the free throw line.

VIU also enjoyed a decided advantage on points off turnovers, outscoring the Eagles 17-9 in that category.

The loss drops the Eagles record to an even .500 for the season, going 7-7 in league play, while the victory solidifies the Mariners position at the top of the BCAA league standings with a record of 10-2.

A red rose is laid in memory of one of the victims of the Ecole Polytechnic slayings in 1989. (Nick Major photo)

It was 19 years ago today, but it could easily have been yesterday.

Saturday, Dec. 6, marks the 19th anniversary of the Montreal Massacre, when 14 women were gunned down at the Ecole Polytechnique engineering school in Montreal. Since the early 1990s, that day has been commemorated across the country as National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women.

Friday, members of the Kwantlen Faculty Association and women’s legal support group West Coast LEAF held a small memorial service in the rotunda of the Richmond campus. Shereen Hassan, chair of the Status of Women Committee of the KFA, began the memorial by calling on everyone to reflect on the continuing issue of violence against women-not just the Montreal Massacre, but also the women missing over the years from the Downtown Eastside.

Hasaan stood behind a table with 14 small tea-light candles and roses, each representing one of the women killed in the Montreal Massacre.   

“The Kwantlen Faculty Association’s message at these memorials is ‘First Mourn, then Work for Change,’” Hassan read to the small crowd, as she then encouraged those present to consider volunteering at places such as a women’s group and transition house or women’s centre, or to support charities that help battered women.

Hasaan was joined by Deanna Ogle and Amanda Macgregor, members of the women’s legal support group WestCoast LEAF, during the candle-lighting ceremony.

The 14 roses on display outnumbered the small audience, however. Only eight people stopped to take part in the ceremony, with most holding two roses each.

Similar memorials were held simultaneously at the Surrey and Langley campuses, and Thursday at the Cloverdale campus.

The Eagles defeated the Capilano Blues, last year’s gold medal team, 1-0 on Sunday afternoon after losing to eventual champions Langara the day before by the same score.

First-year forward Kelsey Doherty scored the only goal of the weekend, and her first of the season, in the 25th minute by clearing a shot over Blues goaltender’s head.

Rookie goaltender Rosemary Kelly was unbreakable, according to head coach Vladimir Samozvanov, and, along with defensive duo Courtney McColloch and Brittany McNeil, held off Capilano’s numerous scoring attempt.

The year was a fairly steady one for the women, who recorded seven wins, five draws and only two losses all season. They entered provincials sitting in fourth place for their third week in a row.

Kwantlen men’s soccer team did not make it to provincials after a disappointing finish which ended their steady decline in the rankings.

The team, made up entirely of first-year players, posted a 5-3-6 record after spending the first five weeks sitting in a playoff spot.

For new head coach Vincent Alvano, the season was never about gaining a playoff spot.

“It seems to me surreal that we are talking about playoffs when, really, this year was all about creditability, and to establish credibility for the program, “ he said earlier in the season, adding, “I think we achieved that.”