Royals Win Gold

The Douglas Royals are the 2023 PACWEST men’s soccer champions after a thrilling gold medal battle with VIU that went to extra time and a shootout.

The Royals struck early with a 3rd minute free kick. Fifth-year midfielder Quintin Desaulniers curled a perfect shot around the VIU wall and into the net for a 1-0 lead.

Desaulniers had a second chance at a free kick at a similar spot in the 10th minute but fired over the bar.

VIU was awarded a penalty kick in the 18th minute but Royals goalkeeper Matthew Miller kicked out his foot while falling to deny Michael Heppelle of a goal.

The Mariners tied things up in the 29th minute. After Ashton Bryant fired a shot that hit the crossbar, the ball fell to the feet of Griffin Douglas and he buried his shot to get the Mariners on the board.

The Royals got another close-in chance in the 41st minute as all-star Burhan Waisy met a cross at the far post, but his one-time deflection was blocked by Matthew Coburn.

In the second half, the first good chance went to Douglas in the first minute of play, forcing VIU keeper Ben Chamberlin to punch away a promising high shot.

The home fans roared in the 54th minute as Chamberlin raced out to do a barrel roll to break up a 2-on-none break. One minute later, Royals keeper Miller raced out to block a VIU through-ball, but the ball bounced off his arm and he was given a red card. Backup goalkeeper Kiarash Ahmadpourbahnamiri was forced to enter the Royals net. Maxwell Dadzie took the resulting free kick, but his effort was deflected over the crossbar.

With the Royals down a player, their fans upped their chanting in support of their team. Yellow cards were given to the Douglas bench and VIU’s Greyson Chalifoux in quick succession as the game temperature rose quickly while the air temperature plunged to near freezing.

Ahmadpourbahnamiri made a brilliant diving save in the 80th minute to keep Mtatabikwa from getting his second goal of the playoffs and fell to stop a solid VIU header in extra time.

The best chance in the first overtime session went to VIU as Travis Brown narrowly missed poking in a deflection after a Heppelle free kick. The second overtime period saw the Mariners earn repeated corner kicks while the Royals had a few breakthroughs, but the backlines held.

In the shootout, after each team scored on their first three shots, Ahmadpourbahnamiri stopped VIU’s Travis Brown—the Mariners fourth shooter—for the only save of the penalty kick session. Royals defender Sam Azimzadeh scored on Douglas’ fifth shot to clinch the Conference title for the green and white.

As the PACWEST has a wildcard berth, both teams had already qualified for the CCAA Men’s Soccer National Championships, hosted by St. Clair College in Windsor, Ontario, November 8-11.

Players of the game were Travis Brown for VIU and Burhan Waisy for Douglas.

Tournament All-Stars

Top Defender: Travis Brown, VIU

Top Midfielder: Michael Heppelle, VIU

Top Forward: Matteo Falcone, Douglas

Top Goalkeeper: Kiarash Ahmadpourbahnamiri, Douglas

MVP: Burhan Waisy, Douglas