The University of the Fraser Valley Cascades men’s soccer team’s championship dreams quickly turned into a nightmare on Saturday (Nov. 6) in Calgary.
Looking to qualify to the Canada West final for the first time in school history, the Cascades were riding an incredible turnaround late in the season and a 2-1 upset win over the Alberta Golden Bears in the quarter-finals on Oct. 29.
But that came crashing down quickly in the semifinal game against the Victoria Vikes.
The Vikes scored two goals in the first 20 minutes, with Jose Sagaste scoring on a set piece in the ninth minute and Ian Whibley connecting on a header in the 19th.
.@uvicvikes strike early, Jose Sagaste at around the nine minute mark.
— Ben Lypka (@BenLypka) November 6, 2021
Things completely fell apart about eight minutes later when UFV midfielder Jun Won Choi received a red card. It’s unclear what was done for him to earn it. Very shortly thereafter Cascades head coach Tom Lowndes got a yellow card. Then at the 35-minute mark Trey Ference put the Vikes up 3-0.
MSOC: CW Semifinal hosted at MRU @UFVCascades vs @uvicvikes is underway
— Mount Royal Cougars (@MRUCougars) November 6, 2021
Follow along for score updates
Victoria’s Isaac Koch put the Vikes up 4-0 at the 50th minute and Sergio Duran added a goal in the 73rd minute to make it a 5-0 final. Shortly after Koch’s goal an unidentified member of the Cascades sideline staff also received a yellow card after a supposed missed hand ball call.
⚽️ MSOC FINAL
— UFV Cascades (@UFVCascades) November 6, 2021
Not our day. Back at it on Sunday in the CW bronze medal match. pic.twitter.com/1ihmCBwqJY
The Cascades now move on to the bronze game tomorrow (Sunday) at 10 a.m. against the loser of this afternoon’s semifinal game between UBC and host MRU. The Vikes play the winner of that game for the CW title.