Things go better with Koch.
Not to mention Hundal.
True freshman Isaac Koch had a goal and assist and fifth-year senior Cam Hundal two goals and two assists as the University of Victoria Vikes defeated the Mount Royal Cougars 5-0 in a sa国际传媒 West men鈥檚 soccer quarter-final playoff game Friday night at Centennial Stadium to advance to the conference semifinals to be hosted next weekend by UBC in Vancouver.
鈥淲e were prepared and came out with the right mentality,鈥� said Hundal, who tied for third in sa国际传媒 West regular-season scoring with eight goals and tied for second in points with 13.
鈥淲e scored early and established our play.鈥�
The Vikes got off to the quick start, always important in soccer, when a Koch pass found the stealthy central defender Keevan Webb at 11 minutes. UVic went ahead 2-0 when Koch, taking a pass from Hundal, slithered down the left wing to slot the ball at 39 minutes.
鈥淚saac [Koch] makes my job easier,鈥� said Hundal, of the rookie midfielder from West Kelowna.
鈥淣o one in the conference can match his pace or speed, especially his first few steps out of the gate. He is special and is going to be really good in his career.鈥�
Michael Baart converted a Hundal assist at 84 minutes and the crafty Hundal sliced through twice in the final six minutes to even further implant the dagger. That鈥檚 just the flourishing finish Vikes head coach Bruce Wilson was looking for.
鈥淚 told the guys at halftime that at 2-nil, we had won nothing yet, and that the next goal wins,鈥� said Wilson.
鈥淚n the end, the victory was well deserved, especially by our back four, which held Mount Royal scoreless.鈥�
The UVic defence held in check Cougars star Cody Cook, who scored five goals this season and was second in sa国际传媒 West with eight assists and tied with Hundal for second in league points with 13.
Everybody in sa国际传媒 West knows what Hundal can do. Koch looks to be a worthy heir apparent.
鈥淸Koch] is a smart player and is only going to get better,鈥� said Wilson.
The Vikes were 6-3-3 in the regular season for second place in the Pacific Division while Mount Royal of Calgary was 7-4-1 for third place in the Prairie Division as rookie head coach Ryan Gyaki led the Cougars to their first-ever sa国际传媒 West playoff appearance.
Meanwhile, 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 quarter-final game today in Abbotsford. It is the first home playoff game in franchise history for the Cascades. Both Vikes-Cascades regular-season games ended in draws.
