Box Score The Canada West Playoffs took off this afternoon at the University of Alberta as the Mount Royal Cougars took on the Victoria Vikes in the first round of the playoffs.

The game started hot. In the 6th minute, Evan Larson had a great opportunity to score inside the box for the Vikes, but his own player got in the way, and Strauss was able to corral the ball.

13 minutes into the game, Josh Flaksman caused a turnover at the half line and found himself in a 2-on-1 for the Cougars. Flaksman passed the ball cross-crease, and Miguel Da Rocha did what he did all season: tuck the ball into the back of the net.

Just a minute later Ethan Keen would make a slide tackle in the middle of the field, table-topping the Vikes player and picking up the first card of the game.

From there, the Vikes started to control possession. From the 17-minute mark, the Vikes took eight shots before the Cougars got one. 

Only one would be on target as Jack Napier-Ganley would take the ball down the right-hand side and shoot the ball softly into the center of Strauss who would easily cover it up.

The Cougars had a great opportunity to score just before the half. Finn Marshall dribbled through the defense and passed it over to Flaksman, who, on his weak foot, took a shot, but it was saved by Callum Weir's foot.

The score going into the half would be 1-0 for the Cougars.

Just 3 minutes into the second half Jag Zaharia would make his way down the right side of the pitch and send a cross over to Harry Ritter West who would head the ball into the back of the net tying it up for the Vikes 1-1.

Just 5 minutes later Ole Cameron would take a shot outside of the box that would beat Sjard Strauss and hit the post, Abel Nesibu was there to clear it out, and the Cougars were able to settle down.

At the 56th-minute mark, the Cougars would have a golden opportunity on a set-piece free kick. Ethan Keen would send a cross to the back right corner, Caden Rogozinski would cross it back over to Da Rocha and he would head the ball into Weir.

In the 73rd minute, Harry Ritter West would take a corner kick and send it into the box, but Strauss would punch it out. Javier Sagaste would have a great opportunity with Strauss on the ground but put it wide.

In the 81st minute, Marshall sent a through ball to Da Rocha who would be one-on-one with the goalkeeper and put it off the left post.

In the 84th minute, Cameron picked up his second yellow card of the game, forcing a red. Going into the next five minutes and extra time, the Vikes would have to play down a man.

After 90 minutes, the score would be 1-1 heading into 30 minutes of extra time.

11 minutes into the first frame of extra time Skyler Rogers would send a low cross into the box to Da Rocha who would shoot directly into the body of Weir.

Two minutes later Jack Napier-Ganley would have a good opportunity down the left wing, but Strauss and the small angle would keep it out.

In the 111th Finn Marshall would take the ball away from the Vikes and get fouled inside the box by Alex Moody. Abel Nesibu would come up to take the penalty and slot it into the bottom left corner for his first goal of the season, and the biggest of his career to give the Cougars a 2-1 lead.

Four minutes later the Vikes cross would be sent over to Archie Tugwell who would head the ball into the chest of Strauss.

The Vikes applied a lot of pressure on the Cougars in the final minutes. In the first minute of additional time in the second half of extra time, Vikes goalie Weir took a shot but Strauss stayed big in the net and made the save.

A red card late by Jack Napier-Ganley would leave the Vikes two men down and the Cougars would come out on top 2-1 and advance to the semifinals to take on the victor of the Golden Bears and Spartans.

The semifinal matchup will take place on Sunday, October 27th at 2:15 PM at the University of Alberta.