Burnaby FC may be wild cards to go deep in their first-ever League1 BC campaigns.
The women's and men's clubs showed off their scoring abilities in their inaugural matches against Harbourside FC (Victoria) on Sunday, April 28, each potting three goals on their home pitch.
The women claimed victory to start the 2024 semi-pro season with a 3-1 win. The men, however, gave up three goals on their side, resulting in a 3-3 tie by the final whistle.
Burnaby FC's debut was met with resounding cheers from the crowds at Burnaby Lake West, where the black and gold are scheduled to play five of their first six regular-season matches; six of 12 in total.
Isabella Sophia Muzzolini, who was the fourth official signee to Burnaby FC L1BC, scored the franchise's first goal in the 44th minute.
Her SFU teammate Reagan Mackenzie got on the board not long after to make it a 2-0 contest at the half.
Harbourside scored its first of the year in the opening minute of the second stanza. Muzzolini potted her second of the afternoon in the 67th minute to restore the two-goal lead, 3-1.
Goalkeeper Sarah Loewen, who served as Burnaby FC's captain on the weekend, stood tall between the pipes to earn the victory.
The 2021 grad of Burnaby Mountain Secondary was the first signee to Burnaby FC L1BC after leading SFU to its first-ever Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) women's soccer championship in November.
On the men's side, Lachlan Will, who returned home from Germany to play for Burnaby FC, scored two goals — the ladder tied the match in the 81st minute and score stayed 3-3 until the end.
Emiliano Brienza kicked in the inaugural ball in the 38th minute. Evan Ince was the goalkeeper for the Burnaby FC men's debut.
Burnaby FC, which combined five local minor soccer associations last year, joined L1BC in February as the league's eighth franchise.
L1BC is the highest level of semi-professional soccer development in the province, and is the third highest in the national system behind the Canadian Premier League.
The black and gold's next matches are set for Saturday, May 4, at Burnaby Lake West (3677 Kensington Ave.) against Langley's Unity FC, kicking off at 1 (women) and 3:30 p.m. (men) respectively.
