The glass slipper was finally wrenched loose.
Second-to-last-place Westcastle United鈥檚 breathless run through the Vancouver Island Soccer League Jackson Cup was derailed Friday night at UVic with a loss on penalty kicks to Bays United Liquor Plus.
The upstart Westcastle side, facing demotion next season to Division 2 pending the results of an upcoming relegation game, made an upset-laden run through the Jackson Cup tournament and then also gave Bays United a huge scare in the semifinals.
The scoreline remained 1-1 through 90 minutes of regulation play, followed by 30 minutes of overtime. It came down to the penalty spot, where the clock finally rang midnight for Westcastle against a potent Bays club paced by veteran sniper Jordie Hughes and former UVic Vikes goalkeeper Elliot Mitrou.
The other semifinal, played Saturday night at Tyndall Field, featured regular-season champion and defending Jackson Cup holders Cowichan FC against the 2015 Cup-finalist Saanich Fusion, guaranteeing there will not be a repeat match-up between the clubs in the 2016 final.
Cowichan FC defeated Fusion 2-1 on Jesse Winters鈥� header from close quarters at 81 minutes. Saanich took the lead on a goal by Andrew Celenza at 26 minutes.
Then, at 42 minutes, former pro and NCAA Coastal Carolina Hall-of-Famer, Tyler Hughes, assisted on a through pass as Dan Cato equalized for Cowichan FC.
The 101st Jackson Cup final, between Cowichan FC and Bays United, goes April 3, at 2:30 p.m., at Royal Athletic Park.
Meanwhile, in the annual Spring Cup semifinals Saturday, the University of Victoria Vikes blanked the Alberta Golden Bears 2-0 in women鈥檚 play while UVic defeated the Trinity Western Spartans 3-1 in men鈥檚 to advance to today鈥檚 respective finals at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. at Centennial Stadium.
It is the last university action for graduating sa国际传媒 West MVPs Emma Greig of the women鈥檚 Vikes and Cam Hundal (also CIS national MVP) of the men鈥檚 Vikes squad.
Greig has a final kick with UVic when the Vikes play the U.S. Women鈥檚 Olympic Program U-17 team Tuesday at 4:30 p.m. at Centennial Stadium.
