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After a high-scoring opening weekend, the action resumes as we head into Matchweek Two.

A busy Saturday begins

After League1 BC began last weekend with several high-scoring games between league rivals, the second matchweek of the season kicks off on Saturday, April 12.

The first of four men’s games sees last season’s champions TSS Rovers travel to 2024’s third-placed side Vancouver Whitecaps Academy. These teams saw differing results in the opening weekend, with TSS tying with Evolution and Vancouver winning at Altitude.

The two sides swapped results when they faced off in 2024. TSS were convincing 4-1 winners away from home, while Vancouver took all three points in the reverse fixture, winning 2-1 on the road.

In the Women’s Division, Vancouver Rise Academy have joined forces with last year’s champions Whitecaps Girls Elite and host TSS; a fixture that the away side will not look back on fondly from 2024.

Whitecaps won this game 7-0 last season, so the Rovers will be looking for revenge at Thunderbird Stadium. The Rise Academy lost their opening match this season, so it should be an interesting affair as they aim to bounce back.

A point to prove

The second matchup on Saturday features two clubs, who had opposing fortunes across the Men’s and Women’s Divisions in 2024, kicking off their seasons.

Unity and Burnaby were flying high in women’s competition last year, finishing second and third respectively. The two sides eventually clashed in the playoffs, with Burnaby equalizing late before winning 6-5 on penalties.

Burnaby are the hosts for this weekend’s game, which is set to be an exciting one with last season’s memories in everyone’s minds.

In the Men’s Division, it will be a case of improving upon last year’s misfortunes. 2024 saw Burnaby finish bottom with only one win from their 12 matches, while Unity finished two places higher in fifth.

These sides met in Matchweek Two of last season, too, with Unity running out 3-1 winners away from home before a 1-1 tie in the reverse fixture. With a subpar 2024, both teams will be aiming to begin this season with a bang.

New names, same aims

The next fixture is a battle between two clubs that are sporting new brands for the 2025 season. Nanaimo United, previously named Harbourside, host Evolution who are a new club hailing from Coquitlam Metro-Ford.

The Nanaimo men’s team had a more successful 2024 season than the women, finishing fourth but still enduring a playoff defeat to eventual champions TSS Rovers, losing 4-1 in the semifinal. Evolution are an unknown entity coming into the league this season but held the defending champions to a 2-2 tie in the opening matchweek.

The Evolution women’s team will also be looking for their first win in League1 BC. For Nanaimo, only Kamloops finished below them in 2024, and with just two wins from their 12 games, the only way is up with a fresh new look to their club.

Completing the week

The final matchup of Matchweek Two features another pair of clubs with new looks in the league. The newly branded Kamloops United, previously Rivers FC, host Langley United who are competing in the league for the first time.

Both the men’s and women’s Kamloops teams struggled last season, with the former finishing second-bottom on 13 points, and the latter rock-bottom with one win in 12. For the men, their final league position looked perhaps harsher than reality, as they only finished six points away from third.

Langley United are also an unknown coming into the new season. The team share their home stadium with the Canadian Premier League’s Vancouver FC, but are on the road for their first game in League1 BC.