MSOC Final Preview: Mount Royal at UBC
Cougars and T-Birds set for an epic rematch on Friday night
Article by Brian Swane, special to CW
Nov. 1, 2024 - For the first time in six years, the Canada West men’s soccer championship will be a rematch, when the Mount Royal Cougars take on the UBC Thunderbirds at Thunderbird Stadium in Vancouver on Friday at 7 p.m. PDT.
Fans can catch the competition live on Canada West TV, presented by BioSteel.
Each team features 11 players who took part in the 2023 final, which saw Mount Royal defeat the T-Birds 1-0 to capture the Canada West Men’s Soccer Championship Trophy for the first time in program history, while also ending UBC’s remarkable run of five consecutive conference titles.
Both teams arrive fresh off dramatic semifinals victories last Sunday. UBC had to work overtime at Thunderbird Stadium to get past the UFV Cascades, ultimately winning 4-2 after the teams were deadlocked 2-2 at the conclusion of regular play. Mount Royal went on the road to Edmonton and knocked off the Alberta Golden Bears by a score of 1-0 at Foote Field, where Cougars midfielder Jonathan Walter booted the winning goal in the 90th minute.
"You've got two teams that's a rematch of last year and it could have been the same even the year before that," said Mike Mosher, head coach of the Thunderbirds. "They're a good side and you've got two teams that have been in these big games and are pretty battle tested.”
Anticipation for this match is at a fever pitch, as the teams haven’t crossed paths since last November, but seemed to be on a collision course since the 2024 Canada West men’s soccer season kicked off in August.
UBC finished atop the standings with an 11-1-3 record, then won its quarterfinal match against the Lethbridge Pronghorns. The Cougars, who went 7-2-5 during the regular season, beat the Victoria Vikes in the quarter-finals.
There is no lack of elite skill between these two sides, who combine for five selections to the 2024 Canada West First and Second All-Star Teams. Those include defenders Eric Lajeunesse and Chris Lee of UBC, as well as Mount Royal’s Ethan Keen, who scored the only goal of last year’s championship match. Cougars attacking player Miguel Da Rocha tied for the conference lead with eight goals in the regular season, while UBC’s Henri Godbout was right behind with a team-high seven goals this season.
The 2023 Canada West final took place at MRU Stadium Field in Calgary, but this time the title is being decided on UBC’s home turf, where the T-Birds are undefeated through the regular season and playoffs in 2024. Mount Royal has lost just once on the road in the regular season and playoffs combined in 2024.
This is the first time in Mount Royal has reached the conference final in consecutive years. Since joining Canada West in 2012, the Cougars have ascended to the ranks of the elite of Canada West men’s soccer, alongside the likes of UBC. The T-Birds are appearing in the championship match for a ninth straight year and looking to add to their record total of 22 conference titles.
“Credit to them, they’re a great team, they’ve been here countless amount of times, but I think we can definitely go over there and get a result,” said Cougars fourth-year defender Abel Nesibu. “We’re full of emotion and positivity right now and I think the way everything went (in the semi-final) we can get the job done there too.”
Both squads have secured a spot at the U SPORTS National Championship, being hosted by Ontario Tech from Nov. 7-10 at Vaso’s Field in Oshawa, Ont.