CAPE BRETON, NS - The Cougars continue to build their historical legacy after beating the York Lions 1-0 in the 2023 U SPORTS Nationals quarter-final match hosted at Cape Breton University in Sydney, NS, Thursday evening. 

Box Score

Although the match was incredibly intense and physical from the first whistle to the last, the majority of the game remained scoreless. With two yellow cards and 15 fouls called on each team, it was clear neither opponent was going to go down without a fight. The Lions took four shots with one on goal in each half, but the Cougars were far more aggressive attacking in the second half, taking seven shots with six on goal in just the final 45 minutes. 

Then, in the 89th minute, Miguel Da Rocha, who entered as a second-half substitute, beautifully headed the ball into the net after a corner kick snipe from Finn Marshall, who entered the game only four minutes prior. Da Rocha continues to be one of the top playoff contributors for the Cougars, after he was an integral part of their success in winning gold in the Canada West Championship scoring two goals total in the conference, and continues his invaluable impact in the U SPORTS National Championship. 

"I'm so, so excited. This still doesn't feel real. I'm so happy for all of the hard work we've done to get here and I'm so happy that we are continuing to move on in the conference," says Da Rocha.

"We worked so hard today. It was a hard fought match and York is so talented, but at the end of the day, we got the job done and it feels fantastic," says Aidan Dumoulin, MRU's outstanding rookie goalkeeper who earned his 12th shutout of the season.

Head Coach, Ryan Gyaki adds, "both teams showed dominance throughout different points in the match. It could have gone either way; I thought York played amazing and was very well coached; it was a great game of football. I'm so proud of the boys and I'm so excited to move on to the semi-final match tomorrow."

The legacy the team has built this year is nothing short of spectacular. Not only is the men's soccer team the first Cougars team to win gold in the Canada West Championship, but they are also the first MRU team to enter into the U SPORTS Nationals in the No. 1 seed. 

Be sure to tune in to CBC.ca Friday, November 10th, at 3:30 p.m. MST where the team will be taking on the host school, the Cape Breton Capers, in the second of two semi-final matches.

U SPORTS x Nike Team Player of the game: Miguel Da Rocha