How do you fill the gaping holes left by the graduating men鈥檚 and women鈥檚 sa国际传媒 West soccer MVPs?
That鈥檚 a question for next fall at the University of Victoria.
This year鈥檚 edition of the annual Keg Spring Cup is about enjoying the talents of Cam Hundal and Emma Greig for one final run around the Centennial Stadium pitch.
鈥淓mma will be difficult to replace,鈥� said UVic women鈥檚 head coach Tracy David, of the fifth-year standout forward from Tofino. 鈥淏ut this will be a nice send-off. We have been going since last August. Playing the best teams in the country is a good way to end the season,鈥� she added, noting the 2015 women鈥檚 CIS-finalist UBC Thunderbirds and Trinity Western Spartans are both playing in the Spring Cup.
The other departing women鈥檚 Vikes player, Shannon Elder, who overcame so much to have a fine career at UVic, graduated in December into her nursing career.
The women鈥檚 Spring Cup tournament kicks off today at 10 a.m. with the CIS-champion Thunderbirds and runner-up Spartans meeting in a reprise of the 2015 national championship game. The Vikes play the Alberta Pandas at 2 p.m.
The UVic men open today at 4 p.m. against Trinity Western in a repeat of the 2015 sa国际传媒 West semifinal last fall, won 2-1 by the Vikes, who advanced to the CIS national tournament. Today鈥檚 other men鈥檚 game features UBC against the Fraser Valley Cascades at noon.
Hundal, with his lacerating speed, was the focal point of the Vikes men鈥檚 season and was named not only the sa国际传媒 West MVP but also the 2015 CIS MVP.
The Spring Cup consolation games are Sunday with the women at 10 a.m. and men at noon, followed by the women鈥檚 championship game at 2 p.m. and men鈥檚 final at 4 p.m.
The UVic women won鈥檛 be done Sunday, however, as they face the eastern-based players from the USA U-17 Olympic Development Program in a friendly at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday at Centennial Stadium.
鈥淭hese are some of the best young players in the United States and they are very, very good,鈥� said David, about the challenge that awaits her Vikes next week.
