VANCOUVER – The UBC Thunderbirds booked their berth at next month's U SPORTS national championship in Toronto with a dramatic last-gasp semi-final victory over the University of the Fraser Valley Cascades at Thunderbird Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
The defending Canada West and U SPORTS champions needed 120 minutes to separate them from their lower mainland rivals and it took
Henri Godbout's goal with the literal last kick of the match in stoppage time of extra time to get them across the line and keep their undefeated season alive.
"It's not easy. Teams are well coached, well organized and when they sit in like that it's difficult," UBC head coach
Mike Mosher said after the match. "We persevered and you play to the final whistle. National final last year, then that today. Incredible. We get a chance now to go and defend the championship in Toronto and despite the challenges of these last two games, we're worthy of it.
"We're worthy, we've got a good team and I'm really pleased that this group gets that opportunity to go and be at nationals, because we deserve it. That's not being arrogant or anything. It's a good group, it's a good side, and I think they've earned it on the balance of the season."
UBC had the edge in first half possession, with UFV looking dangerous in transition, but neither side was able to carve out any clear cut goalscoring opportunities.
The Thunderbirds continued to dominate the play in the second half but the Cascades almost nicked the breakthrough goal in the 53rd minute when Kevin Mailand nearly nipped in and got the ball before
Jack Garner came out to collect.
Space was at a premium for UBC as UFV defended superbly, but the Thunderbirds finally broke the deep lines only to see Matheus De Souza save Godbout's shot in the 83rd minute.
Extra time was an edgy affair with Joaquim Dharamsi and Michael Beecroft having chances for the Cascades.
Godbout had a chance with three minutes of the extra time remaining but could only fire over, but when he got another chance deep into stoppage time, he blasted it past De Souza to give the Thunderbirds the most dramatic of late wins.
UBC will now travel to Calgary next weekend to take on the Mount Royal Cougars in the 2025 Canada West men's soccer championship game with a banner and a number one seeding from the conference on the line. Kickoff is set for 12:00 p.m. PT on Saturday, November 1.
