The University of Victoria Vikes were looking to give retiring head coach Bruce Wilson his fourth men’s national soccer title as a departing gift following 34 years at the helm as the Canada West No. 2 Vikes opened the U Sports championship tournament on Thursday in Ottawa. But it won’t work out that way after UVic was beaten on penalties by the Quebec champion University of Montreal Carabines in the quarter-finals.
The game was scoreless at the half. UVic led 1-0 before the Carbaines levelled, and regulation time and overtime ended 1-1.
The Carabines advanced to the semifinals to play Ontario champion Guelph Gryphons, who beat the Atlantic Conference No. 2 St. Mary’s Huskies 2-0 in their quarter-final. UVic will meet St. Mary’s in the consolation round.
Wilson, who as a player captained Canada at the 1986 World Cup, was named U Sports coach of the year in the awards ceremony held Wednesday night. UVic defender Evan Libke was selected first-team all-Canadian and Vikes midfielder Isaac Koch second-team all-Canadian.
