The Playoff Bracket Is Set
The PACWEST regular season wrapped up this past weekend
SATURDAY
Langara Falcons 1
VIU Mariners 0
The teams didn’t know it at the time, but this was a playoff preview with the Falcons earning the clean sheet on Saturday.
The lone goal came in the 17th minute when Henrique Claros scored his fourth of the season. From there the game was physical with a total of four yellow cards issued.
Falcons’ keeper Blake Charlesworth made five saves in the game to claim the clean sheet. Mariners keeper Ben Chamberlin kept his team in the game with nine saves in the contest.
Douglas Royals 3
Capilano Blues 0
The first place Royals earned their third clean sheet of the season, blasting the Blues in their final meeting of the year.
Sensational rookie Dominik Hajdecki scored twice in the game and Quinn Desaulniers added this third of the year in the victory.
More importantly, it was a first-place clinching win for the Royals who will now enjoy a bye into the PACWEST gold medal game.
SUNDAY
VIU Mariners 3
Dougals Royals 2
In a game that was a must win for the Mariners they scored three goals to help them clinch the final playoff berth on the men’s side of the bracket.
The Mariners opened the scoring in the 18th minute when Michael Heppelle scored his second of the season. The Royals found the equalizer before the half when Dominik Hajdecki scored in the 38th minute for his Conference leading 10th of the campaign and third of the weekend. The teams went into the break tied at one.
In the second half things began to heat up both physically and on the scoresheet. The Royals took the lead in the 48th minute when Quinn Desaulniers scored his fifth of the season. The Mariners would continue to battle and in the 63rd minute Travis Brown found the back of the net to tie it with his second of the year.
Needing a win, the Mariners continued to press and in the 86th minute Brown scored his second of the game which would hold up to be the game winner and ultimately helped clinch the final playoff spot.
They will face the Falcons in the semi-final on Saturday, while the Royals await the winner and will play for gold.
Capilano Blues 2
Langara Falcons 0
Needing a win and a Mariners loss the Blues came out flying on Sunday in their finale shutting out the Falcons 2-0 getting the victory they needed.
The Blues offence was led by Sebastian Cirotto who scored his sixth of the season and Luca Martinelli tallied his second in the win.
Despite scoring the clean sheet victory, the Blues still miss out on the postseason because the Mariners won their game officially eliminated them. The Falcons on the other hand have finished second and will face the Mariners in the semis this coming weekend.