{"id":269593,"date":"2025-11-08T08:40:11","date_gmt":"2025-11-08T08:40:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/269593\/"},"modified":"2025-11-08T08:40:11","modified_gmt":"2025-11-08T08:40:11","slug":"subpar-t-birds-cede-canada-west-title-in-heartbreaking-fashion","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/269593\/","title":{"rendered":"Subpar T-Birds cede Canada West title in heartbreaking fashion"},"content":{"rendered":"

UBC suffered a heartbreaking defeat in the Canada West Men\u2019s Soccer final to the Mount Royal University Cougars (MRU), with Cougars forward Chanan Chanda scoring a last-gasp winner in stoppage time. While things initially looked promising for the \u2018Birds, with UBC striker Theo Afework scoring in the first five minutes, his opening goal was quickly cancelled out by MRU\u2019s Ruben Koudelka, before the Cougars completed the comeback in the final moments on Nov. 1.<\/p>\n

After both sides had secured their place in the final after dramatic semifinal victories \u2014 with UBC securing a win on a last-second extra time goal<\/a>, and Mount Royal advancing on penalties \u2014 this rematch of the previous two Canada West finals was poised to be an enthralling affair.<\/p>\n

The Thunderbirds travelled to Calgary as the favourites, as they had won the Canada West Pacific Division with a 15\u20130\u20131 record across the regular season, including a 2\u20130 win over their hosts when they met back in September.<\/p>\n

Perhaps buoyed by their record, UBC came out firing with confidence, and it took them only five minutes to take the lead. Following a cross from captain Markus Kaiser, Afework was able to corral a bouncing ball and fire home his sixth of the season \u2014 just past the outstretched arms of the Cougars\u2019 keeper \u2014 to put his team in front.<\/p>\n


\n\"Two
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\n Theo Afework looks to beat a Mount Royal player to the ball. Afework\u2019s early goal seemed to be a good omen for the \u2018Birds. It would end as their only shot on goal all game. Courtesy Mount Royal Cougars\n<\/p>\n

However, the tide in this game quickly turned, as after that early goal, Mount Royal found their rhythm and began to trouble the UBC defence. Only five minutes after Afework\u2019s goal, T-Birds goalkeeper Jack Garner had to react fast to get down and save Koudelka\u2019s effort, before a corner saw Finn Marshall and Luka Patik come close to finding an equalizer.<\/p>\n

The hosts continued to push forward, and eventually MRU evened the score after 27 minutes, as Alex Kemsley’s header off of a corner bounced down off the bar and was prodded over the line by Koudelka, despite Garner\u2019s efforts to prevent the ball from going in.<\/p>\n


\n\"A
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\n UBC\u2019s Markus Kaiser takes a shot. Kaiser and the \u2018Birds may have been lucky to go into the half tied, after being outplayed by the Cougars. Courtesy Mount Royal Cougars\n<\/p>\n

While they got off to such a quick start, the Thunderbirds were unable to respond after that setback \u2014 with Mount Royal ending the first half firmly in control of proceedings despite the score line remaining level. After Afework\u2019s goal in the 5th minute, the \u2018Birds offence fell silent, not getting another shot on target for the rest of the half. With that performance, Mike Mosher\u2019s side had a lot of work to do if they were going to get back into the game.<\/p>\n


\n\"A
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\n \u2018Birds striker Max Comsia makes moves with the ball. Comsia is one of UBC\u2019s best offensive options, having scored the third-most goals on the team \u2014 but he and the rest of the T-Birds attack were absent against MRU. Courtesy Mount Royal Cougars\n<\/p>\n

However, it was more of the same when the teams came out after the interval, as UBC struggled to maintain forward momentum and impose their style of play on their opponents. The \u2018Birds offensive struggles allowed Mount Royal to have their own opportunities, as just past 10 minutes into the half Patik forced a strong save from Garner, before his followup put the ball wide from a free header with the goal at his mercy.<\/p>\n

Yet, after those chances, Mount Royal then saw their momentum derailed by a series of injuries that halted the flow of the game \u2014 with the second half devolving into a scrappy affair, with both sides desperate to avoid losing the match.<\/p>\n

For UBC, that desperation wasn\u2019t enough. In virtually the final act of the game, the home side snatched the Canada West title. With the ball going to MRU forward Josh Flaksman, he lofted up a beautiful pass from just outside the crease \u2014 nearly parallel to the goal line \u2014 going just over the hands over a leaping Garner, and right on to the head of Chanda.As Chanda nodded home the ball on the goal line, the Cougars burst into delirious celebration, while UBC\u2019s players fell to the floor in despair.<\/p>\n

This loss is UBC\u2019s first of the year, previously going undefeated throughout the regular season. It couldn\u2019t have come at a worse time. The result denies UBC their sixth Canada West title in seven years, and leaves them with plenty of work to do as the T-Birds look to defend their national title at the U Sports Men\u2019s Soccer Championship in Toronto.<\/p>\n

Because of their loss against MRU, the \u2018Birds will get a much tougher draw in the tournament, coming in as the seven seed and setting up a quarterfinal match against the University of Montreal Carabins \u2014 the team UBC beat in the gold medal game last year.<\/p>\n

First online Nov. 8, 2025, midnight<\/p>\n

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