VICTORIA, B.C. - The University of Victoria Vikes men's soccer team enter the Canada West Men's Final Four after an impressive 5-0 play-off win over the visiting Mount Royal Cougars, Oct. 30. Fifth-year co-captain and midfielder Cam Hundal scored two goals and logged two assists in the win to enter the conference championship with 10 goals to his name.
 
The Vikes are just one game away from qualifying for the CIS Championship and it is Trinity Western that stands in their way in the Canada West semifinal. The Vikes beat the Spartans 1-0 on Sept. 18 and 5-1 on Oct. 24 in regular season play.
 
Only three players who were involved in the 2011 CIS Championship-winning Vikes side remain in fifth year midfielders Hundal, Craig Gorman and fourth year defender Adam Ravenhill. Hundal, whose four-point point performance against Mount Royal made it an impressive ten points in three games, is showing the form that helped earn him the CIS Championship MVP honours in 2011 in his first season with the Vikes.
 
In addition to Hundal, Vikes head coach Bruce Wilson will rely on the offensive efforts of senior Gorman, while new addition Isaac Koch has been continuing to impress towards the end of the season. Koch tallied two goals and three assists in six appearances for the Vikes – including a goal and assist in the quarter-final win over Mount Royal. The connection developed between Koch and Hundal combines pinpoint passing with speed and strong finishing, and has been a force to be reckoned with for the Vikes in the later stages of the 2015 Canada West season.
 
With a resilient keeper in fourth year Noah Pawlowski, midfielder Sam Prette and a defensive line including Keevan Webb and Mackenzie Rigg, the Vikes boast a well-rounded roster capable of challenging for the program's 17th conference banner and 13th CIS Championship appearance in their history.
 
When the Canada West Men's Soccer Final Four opens this Friday in Vancouver, there will be no shortage of familiarity, as the UBC Thunderbirds welcome a trio of Pacific Division rivals to Thunderbird Stadium.
 
UBC is joined by divisional foes Victoria, Trinity Western, and Fraser Valley, after the quintet took care of business last weekend, downing four Prairie Division teams in the conference quarter-finals.
 
The division's strength was on full display a week ago, as the Pacific division combined to outscore the four Prairie playoff teams – Alberta, Calgary, Mount Royal and Saskatchewan – a combined 12-3, with Alberta the lone team to find the back of the net.
 
While all four Pacific teams were undoubtedly happy to see their division mates take care of business a week ago, there will be no love lost this weekend with a pair of spots at the CIS national tournament hosted by York University (Nov. 12-15) up for grabs.
 
Here's a look at all four teams and a complete tournament schedule.
 
UBC Thunderbirds
2015-16 CW Regular Season Record: 10-0-2
Position in standings: 1st Pacific
Last weekend: 2-0 W over Saskatchewan in CW quarter-finals
Last CW Title/Total CW Titles: 2013/15
 
Key performers:
There is no shortage of talent on the No. 1-ranked team in the nation, starting with goalkeeper Chad Bush, who led the conference in wins (9), goals against (4) and shutouts (7).
 
Providing the bulk of the offence this season for UBC has been veteran midfielder Gagan Dosanjh, who finished seventh in Canada West goal scoring with seven tallies, and third-year midfielder Sean Einarsson, who finished fourth in Canada West goal scoring with eight, and started all 12 Canada West games for UBC.
 
Team preview:
The UBC Thunderbirds, the No. 1 team in the CIS, completed their second undefeated Canada West season four years, winning the league's Pacific Division. In the quarter-final round, the Thunderbirds defeated the Saskatchewan Huskies by a score of 2-0 to earn the right to host the Canada West Final Four tournament this weekend in Vancouver. The team has received excellent play from a number of players from the goal out. First-year keeper Chad Bush has been outstanding as expected, finishing atop the league leaderboard in wins (9), goals against (4) and shutouts (7). UBC's defence, including Bryan Fong, Tyler Mertens, Adriano Clemente and Chris Serban, surrendered a league-low five goals during regular season. The Thunderbirds, who finished fourth in conference scoring during the regular season with 31 tallies, are looking for a return to the top of CIS soccer. UBC won back-to-back national titles in 2012 and 2013, before York earned the crown a season ago.
 
Victoria Vikes
2014-15 CW Regular Season Record: 7-3-3
Position in standings: 2nd, Pacific Division
Last weekend: 5-0 over Mount Royal Cougars in CW quarter-finals
Last CW Title/Total CW Titles: 2009/16
 
Key performers:
Victoria is led by a pair of fifth-year veterans, with midfielders Cam Hundal and Craig Gorman leading the charge.
Hundal comes into the weekend with 17 points (10 goals and seven assists) on the season, which leads Victoria. The veteran is third in conference goal scoring and second in the conference with 17 points in 13 combined Canada West games
Gorman sits second on the team in scoring with eight points (six goals and two assists), with two of his goals game winners.
 
Team preview:
The University of Victoria Vikes men's soccer team enters the Canada West Final Four after an impressive 5-0 playoff win over the visiting Mount Royal Cougars on Oct. 30. Fifth-year co-captain and midfielder Cam Hundal scored two goals and logged two assists in the win to enter the conference championship with 10 goals to his name. The Vikes are just one game away from qualifying for the CIS Championship, with the Trinity Western Spartans standing in their way in the Canada West semifinal. The Vikes beat the Spartans 1-0 on Sept. 18 and 5-1 on Oct. 24 in regular season play.
 
In addition to Hundal, Vikes head coach Bruce Wilson will rely on the offensive efforts of senior Craig Gorman, while new addition Isaac Koch has been continuing to impress towards the end of the season. A seasoned Vikes team that also consists of veterans Gareth Langdon, Sam Prette, Paulo Dait and keeper Noah Pawlowski should round out a quality lineup to challenge for the program's 17th conference banner and 13th CIS Championship appearance.
 
Trinity Western Spartans
2014-15 CW Regular Season Record: 5-5-2
Position in standings: 4th Pacific Division
Last weekend: 1-0 W over Calgary in CW quarter-finals
Last CW Title/Total CW Titles: 2007/3
 
Key Performers:
Spartans fourth-year goalkeeper Andrew Hicks has been a critical cog for the Spartans this year and has proven to be amongst the best netminders in Canada West, if not the CIS. Hicks made eight saves against Calgary to earn a clean sheet and was instrumental in the Spartans advancement to the Final Four. His ever-developing talent gives TWU a chance to win every time the Spartans take the pitch. In his fifth-year with TWU, Jarvis Ambaka led the Spartans with four goals in the regular season and is a threat to score every time he's one the field. His speed and quick-striker ability forces the opposition to always be aware of the rangy Kenyan.
 
Team preview:
Following up an upset win over the Prairie Division-winning Calgary Dinos, the Spartans return to the Final Four for the first time since 2012. While they're a young team, they're also a very dangerous team. Fifth-year midfielder Brayden Gant is one of the best in the country and his box-to-box work rate against Calgary was one of the key reasons why the Spartans found success.
 
If the Spartans are to advance to the Canada West championship game for the first time since 2008, they'll have to turn the tides on a Victoria side that won both games against TWU during the regular season. The Spartans lost 1-0 at home before a regular season-ending 5-1 setback against the Vikes on the road.
 
Since Rohla took over as head coach in 2009, TWU has advanced to the Final Four on four different occasions, but the Spartans gaffer is still in search of his first Canada West semifinal win.
 
Fraser Valley Cascades
2014-15 CW Regular Season Record: 5-4-3
Position in standings: 18
Last weekend: 4-3 W over Alberta in CW quarter-finals.
Last CW Title/Total CW Titles: NA/NA
 
Key performers:
Fourth-year midfielder Connor MacMillan from Chilliwack, B.C. finished tied for second on the team with three goals during the regular season, and scored twice in Saturday's quarter-final win over Alberta.
Also providing veteran leadership for UFV is fifth-year right and team captain Colton O'Neill, who led the squad with four goals during the regular season (all from the penalty spot). O'Neill was a Canada West first team all-star in 2014.
 
The versatile Tammer Byrne, who was UFV's male rookie of the year across all sports in 2014 has lined up as a centre back, or a holding midfielder depending on his team's needs in a given game. The sophomore has played a key role in tightening the Cascades' defence.
 
Team preview:
The UFV men's soccer team returns to the Canada West Final Four for the second time in three years, on the strength of a thrilling 4-3 quarter-final road win over the Alberta Golden Bears on Saturday. Connor MacMillan's second goal of the game – in the 84th minute – stood up as the game-winner.
 
The Cascades, who finished third in the Pacific Division with a 5-4-3 regular-season record, will face the Final Four host UBC Thunderbirds in the semifinals at 7:30 p.m. on Friday. UFV was one of only two teams to take points off the Thunderbirds this season, earning a 1-1 draw at UBC on Oct. 24. They also played the T-Birds tough on Sept. 18 at Abbotsford Senior Secondary, ultimately dropping a 3-2 decision.
 
The Cascades will be looking for impact performances from the likes of MacMillan (three goals during the regular season), fellow midfielder Kree Byrne (UFV's regular season co-leader in points with six), defender/midfielder Tammer Byrne, and right back Colton O'Neill, UFV's team captain and a Canada West first team all-star in 2014.
 
Tournament schedule:
 
Friday, November 6:
Semifinal 1: Victoria vs. TWU – 5:00 PM
Semifinal 2: UBC vs. UFV – 7:30 PM
 
Saturday, November 7:
Bronze Medal Game – Loser Semifinal 1 vs. Loser Semifinal 2 – 5:00 PM
Gold Medal Game – Winner Semifinal 1 vs. Semifinal 2 – 7:30 PM
 
* All games played at David Sidoo Field at UBC Thunderbird Stadium on the campus of UBC. All four games will be streamed live on Canadawest.tv