The Bowen Island Football Club had two historic firsts this past week: one being the first-ever co-ed adult league game, the other the first league game played off-island by a Bowen youth soccer club.

In the inaugural co-ed league game on Sept. 11, Team Black defeated Team Blue 4-2 in a game that was close until the Morgan Quarry show arrived late in the match.

Quarry deftly weaved between two weary Blue defenders, racing up the middle and drilling a shot low into the corner past a helpless Dave Taylor.

Minutes later he pushed in another from a scramble in front.

The game was played at the G.V.R.D. field but games will move to the new AT field as soon as it is ready, expected to be as early as Sept. 21.

The following day the club’s first team to join the Four District League U14 Bronze 2 Soccer Division played and won their inaugural game at the Inter River fields in North Van.

Led by Chris Hillhouse’s three goals, the Bowen Island FC hammered the Dunbar Vikings 6-2. Other Bowen scorers: David Seo (2) and Peter Blomberg.

“It was the perfect start to what will be an exciting new season,” said coach Gian Perroni.

The co-ed game was a spirited affair with women easily contributing as much as the men. The fact it was a league game seemed to give it a competitive edge, but sportsmanship – or perhaps ‘sportspersonship’ – was evident throughout.

The game was six aside and each club has 10 players, six men and four women; the league is comprised of four teams.

More than a dozen fans, many of them kids, attended and Stuart Cole reffed while another Stuart, Stuart Bristow, provided the league’s first-ever goal – twice. Fifteen minutes into the first half – matches are two 30 minute halves – Bristow drilled a shot into the top upper corner to open the scoring.

The only problem was it was Bristow’s own net.

He made up for it by tying the game 1-1 at the top of the second half, using his midsection to muscle a ball in from a corner kick.

For anyone interested is seeing a match, the games are Monday and Fridays at 6 p.m. and the seasons runs until Oct. 30. For the co-ed schedule and team make-up, and for the schedule of the U14 boys, who play home games on Bowen, visit bowenfc.com.