Horns set to battle with T-Birds to open playoffs

By Lethbridge Herald on October 23, 2024.

Justin Seward

Lethbridge Herald 

For the second year in a row, the University of Lethbridge Pronghorns men’s soccer teams are competing for a Canada West championship beginning this weekend.

The Horns (3-4-7) face the Canada West’s  top-ranked  UBC Thunderbirds (11-1-3) in one  quarter-final on Friday  in Vancouver.

“Yeah, very proud,” said Vikram Virk, Horns head coach, on leading the team to the playoffs.

“It’s something (that) was definitely a target of ours before the season. So to achieve that is something that we can celebrate and of course we’re proud to accomplish and that was step one.”

The Horns have been playoff focused for the last number of weeks with the games they have played in.

“So from an intensity point of view, mentality point of view (and) meaning point of view, we’ve played those kind of games in the last couple of weeks,” said Virk.

“So for us, we’re not changing too, too much. Obviously we’ll do our homework and then make our preparations towards UBC.”

The Horns strength will be their gritty, tough style of soccer.

“No one enjoys playing against us,” said Virk.

“I think that’s something if you want to be successful, that’s got to be first. We’ve obviously built a pretty good foundation off of being a tough team to play against, especially with our defensive record, and … again we defend very well as a team. I think our identity on the ball is continuing to grow as well.”

Virk sees the challenge against UBC being one the Horns are looking forward too.

“We’re expecting a good quality side and a very  good test for the first game,” said Virk.

Game time is ay 8 p.m. Alberta time on Friday.

The winner of this game will play the winner of University of Calgary and University of Fraser Valley in a Sunday semi-final.

Mount Royal is facing the University of Victoria, while Trinity Western plays the University of Alberta in other quarter-final action up in Edmonton on Friday, with the winner of those games facing off in semi-final on Sunday.

The winner of the semi-finals will play for a Canada West Championship in men’s soccer at a date yet to be determined.