鈥淚 had separate talks with both of my captains [fifth-year standouts Cam Hundal and Craig Gorman] and told them that not only do they have to get the team ready mentally, I also need performances out of both of them,鈥� said University of Victoria Vikes head coach Bruce Wilson.
Wilson鈥檚 Vikes (6-3-3 for second place in the Pacific Division) meet Ryan Gyaki鈥檚 Mount Royal Cougars of Calgary (7-4-1 for third place in the Prairie Division) in a sa国际传媒 West Conference men鈥檚 soccer quarter-final game tonight at 7:15 at Centennial Stadium. The winner advances to next weekend鈥檚 semifinals.
Hundal tied for third in sa国际传媒 West regular-season scoring with eight goals, while Gorman was also in the top-10 with six goals. For five seasons, they have combined to create much offensive artistry at Centennial Stadium, including winning the CIS national championship as freshmen on home turf in 2011. Now, they are being tasked to lead the Vikes to one more run at glory.
Hundal was tied for third in sa国际传媒 West with five assists and tied for second in league points with 13. Gorman led sa国际传媒 West in shots with 48.
鈥淲e came into the program together, not knowing each other, but our on-field relationship grew and we got to know each other鈥檚 tendencies so well,鈥� said Hundal, of his chemistry with Gorman.
鈥淭hat helps in creating chances and gives an advantage against defences. No way does it feel like five years have gone by.鈥�
Hundal, named sa国际传媒 West male athlete for this week, is a kinesology major and said he hopes to explore opportunities to play pro next season.
The Cougars look to be dangerous, too. Cody Cook led Mount Royal offensively with five goals this season and was second in sa国际传媒 West with eight assists and tied with Hundal for second in points with 13 behind Dominic Russo of the Calgary Dinos with 19. Lewis Odosa and Drake Rendle added four goals each for the Cougars.
Noah Pawlowski had a .654 save percentage in goal for UVic and Kamil Zielinski a league seventh-ranked .683 for the Cougars. Zielinski recorded a sa国际传媒 West third-best goals-against average of 1.20 and Pawlowski a sixth-best 1.50.
Mount Royal bench-boss Gyaki has led the Cougars to their first-ever sa国际传媒 West playoff appearance. Gyaki said in a statement that both teams are skilled, so discipline could prove the difference.
鈥淪imple is usually better,鈥� he said.
鈥淯nder the lights on a Friday night. It doesn鈥檛 get any better than that.鈥�
Meanwhile, there won鈥檛 be any surprises when the UVic Vikes (7-3-4) meet the Fraser Valley Cascades (8-4-2) in an all-Pacific Division women鈥檚 soccer sa国际传媒 West playoff quarter-final game Saturday in Abbotsford.
The Vikes will be looking for large doses of revenge. The Cascades have proven a thorny opponent. Last year, they stunned the favoured and nationally top-five ranked Vikes 3-0 in the 2014 playoff quarter-final at Centennial Stadium. And last week at Centennial Stadium, the Cascades scored late in the final 2015 regular-season game to gain a 2-2 tie against UVic and a crucial point to finish ahead of the Vikes and secure home field for the playoff game Saturday. It will be the first home playoff game in franchise history for the Cascades.
Both Vikes-Cascades regular-season games ended in draws.
鈥淲e didn鈥檛 get home field but we have to get past that and move forward,鈥� said UVic head coach Tracy David.
鈥淲e have to be defensively sound with no mistakes in the back. In the middle, we need to be physical and defend against their transition game, which is very good. Up front, we need to finish chances. It鈥檚 field turf, so the weather won鈥檛 be a worry.鈥�
