As sure as the cherry blossoms and cruise ships appear each spring, so does the Keg Cup men鈥檚 and women鈥檚 university soccer tournament. It鈥檚 been quite a run, as the 32nd edition kicks off today and concludes Sunday at Centennial Stadium.
Both the University of Victoria Vikes women鈥檚 and men鈥檚 teams come into hosting the tournament following some encouraging results.
The women鈥檚 team showed those who measure everything in university sports against the U.S.-based NCAA Div. 1 that they can run with anybody. UVic, sa国际传媒 West runners-up and top-five nationally in U Sports last season, finished its recent tour by going 1-1-1 against NCAA Div. 1 teams with a 2-1 victory over Florida International University, 1-1 draw against Florida Gulf Coast University and 2-1 loss to Florida Atlantic University.
The men鈥檚 Vikes are coming off a 10-day training camp in Phoenix, where they beat Benedictine University 2-0 and a Phoenix select side 6-1 before losing to 2-1 to Sporting Arizona of the semi-professional United Premier Soccer League. The latter club鈥檚 alumni list includes the likes of Honduras Olympian and two-time World Cup player Roger Espinoza of MLS Sporting Kansas City and Nick DeLeon of D.C. United of the MLS.
That final fixture of the Phoenix camp was an eye-opener for any of the Vikes players looking to take their game to the next level. UVic, however, held its own against the pros.
鈥淚t was a great game, game back and forth, and we missed some chances while their goalkeeper made some good saves,鈥� said UVic head coach Bruce Wilson.
鈥淲e matched them step for step. They were pleased with the competition we gave them. It was a great experience, and without a doubt, opened eyes for some of our guys about what it takes to be a pro.鈥�
Singled out for special praise was UVic鈥檚 dynamic attacking-midfielder Isaac Koch.
鈥淚saac tore through [Sporting Arizona] and even the Arizona coach mentioned him,鈥� said Wilson, the former sa国际传媒 World Cup captain, entering his 31st season of guiding the Vikes.
鈥淚 can see Isaac Koch being a top goal scorer in sa国际传媒 West in his upcoming final two years of eligibility for us.鈥�
Since the sa国际传媒 West and U Sports soccer seasons are in the fall, the annual Keg Spring Cup provides both Wilson and UVic women鈥檚 head coach Tracy David an opportunity to say a final farewell to the graduating seniors while looking over the returning players ahead of training camp in August.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a passing of the torch in many ways,鈥� David said.
鈥淲hile some of the seniors are away on co-op, it鈥檚 a great opportunity for us to give those seniors who are here an appreciative thank you and send-off. For the younger players, it鈥檚 an opportunity to start afresh and show what they have and to get a preview of next season鈥檚 team.鈥�
The same holds true for the other teams invited to the Keg Spring Cup.
鈥淓very [sa国际传媒 West] team wants to come to this tournament. It鈥檚 amazing the number of requests we get,鈥� Wilson said.
鈥淲e [Vikes] are saying goodbye to two seniors, Tarnvir Bhandal and Paulo Dait, both great players. The returnees are playing for spots for next season. I will talk to players after the tournament. Some will be asked back [next season] and some won鈥檛 be. We are looking not bad, and very interesting, for next season.鈥�
The Keg Spring Cup men鈥檚 tournament opens today at noon with the defending sa国际传媒 West champion UBC Thunderbirds taking on the Trinity Western Spartans in a rematch of the conference final won by the Thunderbirds in extra time.
The Vikes play the University of Fraser Valley Cascades at 4 p.m. today.
The men鈥檚 consolation game is Sunday at noon with the final at 4 p.m.
The women鈥檚 side of the tournament is loaded with sa国际传媒 West champion Trinity Western, conference runner-up Vikes, conference regular-season champion Alberta Pandas and sa国际传媒 top-four UBC. The teams were a combined 38-8-10 in sa国际传媒 West last season.
Trinity Western and UBC open the festivities this morning at 10, with UVic meeting Alberta at 2 p.m.
The women鈥檚 consolation final is Sunday at 10 a.m. and the final at 2 p.m.
