Metro Vancouver, BC….. The KPU Eagles men’s soccer team earned their own place at the 2014 PACWEST Provincials next week. Today’s 1-0 loss to the Quest University Kermodes today at home in Surrey’s Newton Athletic Park puts their regular season record at 5-6-3 and 18 points. Tomorrow’s results will determine third or fourth place standings for the regular season between KPU and the Langara College Falcons. Only four of the six PACWEST teams earn a playoff berth to next week’s Provincials hosted by the Kermodes. This will be the first playoff appearance for the Eagles under second-year head coach Srdjan Djekanovic.
Strong goalkeeping by second-year goalkeeper Ashbir Paul, Richmond, BC and the backline kept the Eagles in the game until the 88th minute when Quest would send in the winning goal. “We created chances but we were unable to finish,” stated Coach Djekanovic, “The guys played well and we have a lot to work on next week.”
This is the fifth appearance at Provincials for KPU in the program’s 11-year history. The 2006/07 season was the strongest post-season result and earned the team a silver medal. The 2007/08 season yielded a bronze finish, the 2011/12 saw the Eagles eliminated in the quarter-final, and the 2012/13 season ended at fourth place. The Eagles have yet to clinch a spot at the CCAA Nationals.
“We are excited for provincials, its the first time since beginning of the season that we have had everyone healthy which is very positive,” noted Coach Djekanovic, “We have stuck together, fought for each other, and have achieved a great result for our program in the regular season. Now it is time to focus and look towards our goals at Provincials next week.”
Tomorrow is the final regular season match, with the Eagles taking on the VIU Mariners at 2:00pm at Merle Logan Field in Nanaimo, BC.
For more information on the Department of Athletics & Recreation, please contact Junelle Mah, sports information and marketing, at 604-786-0804 or at junelle.mah@kpu.ca.
The KPU Eagles Department of Athletics & Recreation enters its 14th season of interuniversity competition. The Eagles are members of the PACWEST conference and play in the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) with 100 student-athletes participating on eight varsity teams in men’s and women’s basketball, soccer, badminton and golf. KPU athletics plays its home games at the Eagles’ Nest (Surrey Campus), Northview Golf & Country Club, Newton Athletic Park, all located in Surrey, BC and the Ace Badminton Centre in Richmond, BC. The Eagles are active in the conference with staff members on various advisory committees and competing to host both provincial and national championships. The student-athletes are mainly from the lower mainland but KPU’s rosters have included student-athletes from North America, South America, Asia and Europe.