Mariners Headed To Nationals In Style

PACWEST Media

As the only team at the tournament to win two games, the Vancouver Island University (VIU) Mariners got the one that counted most Sunday evening with a 2-0 triumph over the No. 1-seed Langara College Falcons to claim their first PACWEST title in 11 years.

The win puts VIU into the CCAA National Championships on a high note. Both teams in Sunday's final were already qualified for nationals as Langara is the tournament host so the PACWEST conference had two automatic berths.

On Sunday, the Mariners got their scoring done early in each half. Coming off his two-goal game Saturday against Douglas College, Billy Bagiopoulos' marker in the ninth minute opened the scoring against Langara.

In minute 57 of the second half, big VIU fullback Matthew Coburn got on the business end of a free kick by Juan Rubiano and volleyed it home to make for the 2-0 final score.

In an odd twist, VIU was forced to use midfielder Michael Heppelle as a goalkeeper with the team's other two keepers sidelined with injury. Heppelle came on in relief of an injured Kevin Picard Saturday and completed the clean sheet before posting another on Sunday. He was name the tournament's Top Goalkeeper.

Bagiopoulos was named Top Forward and Tournament MVP while Langara's David Rodriguez Zegarra and Noah Holmes took Top Midfielder and Top Defender respectively.

Both teams will be at the CCAA National Championship happening Nov. 9 to 12 and hosted by Langara at Langley's Willoughby Park.