Bobcats win over Blazers while Les Rouges upset Pilots in 2022 MCAC Men’s Soccer Semi-Final in Brandon
A sunny and rather warm fall afternoon in Brandon for the four teams competing for the 2022 MCAC Men's Soccer Championship semi-final matches, hosted by Assiniboine Community College (ACC), on Saturday, October 29.
A three-peat is still in play while an upset occurred in the #2-#3 match before the championship final on Sunday, October 30.
#1 BU Bobcats vs. #4 CMU Blazers
The #1 seed Brandon University (BU) Bobcats (10-0-2 regular season record; 1-0 post-season) started the championship with a 2-0 win over the #4 seed Canadian Mennonite University (CMU) Blazers (1-2-9 regular season record; 0-1 post-season) in front a loud pro-Bobcat crowd at the HLC Field.
There was 25 points separating the teams in the regular season standings and Brandon started quickly when 2022 MSOC Player of the Year Camilo Rodriguez converted a goal mouth pass at the five minute. The Blazers then held the 13th ranked Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) team to the lone gaol after 45 minutes.
In the second half, 2022 All Conference Victor Andrade scored low on a penalty kick just under ten minutes in and CMU could not find a way to score to tighten this contest as the Bobcats advanced to another championship final.
Brandon still has an opportunity for a three-peat now as they won last year in front of the hometown crowd and then in 2019 before the pandemic.
2022 MSOC Coach of the Year Glen McNabb commented about BU performance and the finals, "We kept playing our style and being patience throughout this match. We knew either team could win the other semi-final and USB will be hungry. They have a good club and we need to be ready for the finals."
Player of the Match for BU was defender Nathan Chubaty and defender Noah Schindel for CMU.
#2 PUC Pilots vs. #3 USB Les Rouges
In the other semi-final, the #3 seed Université de Saint-Boniface (USB) Les Rouges (7-1-4 regular season record; 1-0 post-season) pulled off the upset over #2 seed Providence University College (PUC) Pilots (9-0-3 regular season record; 0-1 post-season) by a 4-0 margin at Sportsplex Field.
Both teams only had five points separate them in the conference standings yet USB scored early and often on the higher seed PUC. Franck Oumar N'Dia was the second leading scorer in MCAC this season and continued his scoring prowess as he notched the first goal of the game on a nifty run and popped the ball over the Pilots' keeper at the 18 minute mark. Just before half, N'Dia spun around at the top of the box and struck his second of the semis.
In the next 45 minutes, USB continued to press while PUC wanted to get back into the game. N'Dia completed the natural hat trick with a penalty kick in the 70 minute. Ibrahim
Bezzahou finished the scoring a dozen minutes later.
Les Rouges have won the conference title four times (2014-17) and have an opportunity for a fifth to add to their trophy case as they are now one win away.
Player of the Match for Les Rouges was striker Franck Oumar N'Dia with midfielder Johannes Barnes for Providence.
The 2022 MCAC Men's Soccer Championship Final, Brandon University versus Université de Saint-Boniface at 12 p.m. (noon) CT on Sunday, October 30 at the Sportsplex Field in Brandon. Up for grab for the MCAC champion is also a berth into the 2022 CCAC Men's Soccer Championships hosted by Langara College in Langley, BC running from November 9-12.
2022 Manitoba Colleges Athletic Conference Soccer Championship
Hosted by: Assiniboine Community College; Central Time listed
Saturday, October 29
12 p.m. MSOC: #1 seed BU Bobcats 2 #4 seed CMU Blazers 0
12 p.m. MSOC: #3 seed USB Les Rouges 4 #2 seed PUC Pilots 0
2:30 p.m. WSOC: #1 seed USB Les Rouges 4 #4 seed CMU Blazers 0
2:30 p.m. WSOC: #2 seed PUC Pilots 3 #2 seed BU 0
Sunday, October 30
12 p.m. Men's Championship Final: #1 seed BU Bobcats vs. #3 seed USB Les Rouges
2:30 p.m. Women's Championship Final: #1 seed USB Les Rouges vs. #2 seed PUC Pilots