Tale of the Weekend
 
VICTORIA – The ninth and final home game of the 2017-18 UVic Vikes men's soccer team schedule will be played this weekend at Centennial Stadium as the Vikes remain locked in an incredibly tight race for a spot in the Canada West playoffs.
 
The Vikes will take on the UBC Okanagan Heat on Friday, Oct. 13 and the Thompson Rivers WolfPack on Saturday, Oct. 14 with both games scheduled for a 7:15 p.m. start.
 
With just one win separating the second-place Heat and the sixth-place Fraser Valley Cascades, the second, third and fourth playoff spots in the Pacific Division of Canada West soccer all remain up for grabs with just four games left in the season.
 
The Heat sit at 5-3-3, good enough for second-place in the division and are trying to qualify for the Canada West playoffs for the second year in a row.
 
The WolfPack hold a record of 4-2-5 and occupy the fourth and final playoff spot in the division. Hosting the U SPORTS National Championship from Nov. 9-12, TRU is trying to qualify for the playoffs for the first time in school history.
 
Sitting at 4-6-1, the Vikes are currently sixth in Pacific Division but are just a few positive results away from vaulting into a playoff spot.
 
The game on Saturday against the WolfPack will also see the honouring of the graduating athletes from the Vikes roster. Tarnvir Bhandal, Dorian Colopisis, Paulo Dait and Nick Pineda Graham will all be playing in the final home games of their Vikes career.
 
The Vikes lost to both the Heat and WolfPack during a road trip to the Interior that took place back on Sept. 2 and 3. Thompson Rivers defeated the Vikes 3-0 while UBCO scored an extra-time goal to beat the Vikes 1-0.
 
Last Time Out
 
It was a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde type showing from the Vikes last weekend. In back-to-back games against UBC, the team went from losing 5-0 on home soil to claiming a 2-1 upset victory over the then No. 5 ranked UBC T-Birds.
 
Will Adams and Tarnvir Bhandal scored for the Vikes while Maxwell Branyik-Gil made six saves to preserve the win.

The Heat failed to score a goal in the two games they played last weekend but still managed to record two points. Back-to-back 0-0 ties with the UNBC Timberwolves extended the Heat's shutout streak to six straight games.
 
The WolfPack will come into the games at Centennial well rested after they had a bye weekend.
 
By the Numbers
 
7: The number of shutouts Mitch McCaw has recorded in the UBCO net in the ten games that he has played.
 
14: The number of points Mitchell Popadynetz has put up this season for the WolfPack, the most of anybody in the conference.
 
Coach's Take
Bruce Wilson, Vikes head coach
 
"This weekend is huge, I think we need full points from the weekend. It's all there for the team to still take."
 
"There is no question about how important the confidence we gained from the win over UBC is."
 
"In terms of work rate the team has worked extremely hard in training. They are aware of the mistakes we are making on the field and they managed to correct some of those mistakes against UBC."
 
On Graduating players: Tarnvir Bhandal, Dorian Colopisis, Paulo Dait and Nick Pineda Graham
 
"They are an excellent players that have all impacted our program. Without a doubt they are leaders on this team and for us to win we need them to be our best players."
 
Game Info
 
Friday, Oct. 13 – 7:15 p.m. – vs UBC Okanagan Heat
Watch live on canadawest.tv | Buy tickets at govikesgo.com
 
Saturday, Oct. 14 – 7:15 p.m. – at UBC T-Birds
Watch live on canadawest.tv  | Buy tickets at govikesgo.com

UBC Okanagan Heat (5-3-3)
Canada West Standings: 3 (Pacific: 2)
Last Week: 0-0-2
Streak: T 2
Goals For: 14
Goals Against: 7
Last Canada West Title: N/A
Last U SPORTS Title: N/A
 
Thompson Rivers WolfPack (4-2-5)
Canada West Standings: 6 (Pacific: 4)
Last Week: 0-1-1
Streak: T 1
Goals For: 22
Goals Against: 16
Last Canada West Title: N/A
Last U SPORTS Title: N/A