Box Score
MSOC: MRU (2) at ALB (1)


MRU men's soccer are the 2022 Canada West bronze medalists after a high-energy and determined performance against the University of Alberta Golden Bears. 

After two draws in regular season play, the Cougars were able to top ALB when it truly mattered with a 2-1 victory, and the hardware to show it. 

It wasn't what the team had hoped for heading into this weekend's Final Four, but head coach Ryan Gyaki says the young group have a lot to be proud of after an unbeaten regular season and a lot to build upon heading into 2023.
 
"I've just told the lads, I've been involved in a lot of football and we had a lot of guys who had worked hard all year and didn't get a lot of minutes and we put them in for fresh legs after extra time yesterday," Gyaki said after the match. "The first 20 minutes was so fun to watch. Just the joy of football. Not the medal we wanted, but three bronzes in a row isn't the worst either. Some people play their whole career and never get a medal. Not what we wanted but we're young and healthy and that's all that matters."

Dawid Dudek covered every inch of the pitch this afternoon, consistently found in the perfect spot to make clean receptions and kept up his hustle getting back on defence, so it was no surprise when he made the first goal for his squad. 

David Schaefer used beautiful footwork to defeat the Golden Bear defence before sending the ball through and onto the boot of a wide-open Dudek waiting patiently to finish the job. 
Niklas Liebich was handed out the first of what would be an unimaginable amount of yellow cards to come throughout the rest of the match, with the Golden Bears taking seven of the 12 shelled out. 

Five of Alberta's cards were granted in the first 19 minutes of the second half, truly demonstrating the hunger that their squad hit the pitch with today.
 
Luke Withers was first in the 46th minute, followed by Eric Gehlert three minutes later, Garry Onyejelem in the 56th, Adam Parker three minutes after that, and finally, Morgan Graham in the 65th.

Despite his yellow card, Onyejelem would reignite the Golden Bears with a stunning finish in the 72nd minute after receiving what was a perfect pass through traffic from Jake Bosch and sending it deep into the left side of the net past an outstretched Sterling Kerr. 

Mount Royal picked up their second yellow of the game from Dudek in the 72nd minute that would soon be forgotten with a near miss from Skyler Rogers, finding the side netting on Alberta's end.

The decisive goal was to come in the second phase of a corner for Mount Royal. Alberta were unable to clear the danger in the six yard box and Caden Rogozinski was on hand to fire the loose ball home. It was his first goal of the season and, what a time to get it.

Both teams had a strong defensive performance to finish the last five minutes, but it was MRU who was most successful and held their position against an extremely determined Alberta offence.

With time counting down, MRU pushed to hold their lead while ALB continuously increased pressure on attack, leading to an 86 minute yellow for Joel Martins-Correia, just second after he subbed into the match.

The crowd held their breath in the 89th minute as Alberta nearly scored a second equalizer off a corner but were robbed of the satisfaction by Sterling Kerr and a miraculous save.

Officials added four minutes of stoppage, and though no one was able to capitalize, there was no shortage of excitement as the last four yellow cards were awarded. 

Abel Nesibu picked up one for MRU, followed by teammates Josh Flaksman and Skyler Rogers, while Alberta's Bosch grabbed their seventh.

It was truly a perfect game for the three Mount Royal graduates, all putting on fantastic performances. Schaefer, Mohamed El Gandour and Kerr all finish their Cougar careers with back-to-back-to-back Canada West bronze medals and can head back to Calgary with their heads held high. 

As the Cougars celebrated their bronze, Gyaki was quick to pay tribute to what has been a fantastic weekend of Final Four soccer and a great showcase for the conference and everyone involved with the teams.
 
"I think the most important part when you come to events like this, I'm so proud of all these teams, the men's and women's that were here this weekend," Gyaki said. "They're student athletes, they're getting degrees, and they're going to go and be better people later and help society get better. That for me is the biggest part. It was a great competition and the love of the game was great to see." 

Go Cougars.


Player of the game: Caden Rogozinski