Vancouver, BC —  In a closely contested battle, the Mount Royal Cougars came up short against the UBC Thunderbirds in the conference final, falling 1-0.

The game was a rematch of both last year's Canada West championship game and the U SPORTS bronze medal match. Both of those were settled by a single goal, with Mount Royal victorious in the former and UBC the latter, and it was no surprise that this was to be another closely contested match one year on.

In the first 45 minutes, the teams fought through challenging weather, with heavy rain impacting control and footing. The two sides struggled to create clear opportunities, as defenses stayed compact to counter the slick conditions.

The Cougars created attacks into UBC's defensive third, with Jonathan Walter and Abel Nesibu looking to generate scoring opportunities. However, the Thunderbirds' disciplined backline held firm, allowing MRU no shots on goal during the half. Cougars' goalkeeper Sjard Strauss made several critical saves, keeping the game scoreless heading into halftime.

As the second half began, UBC pressed forward, applying pressure to MRU's defense. The match grew increasingly physical, with both sides trading fouls as they fought for midfield control. Then, in the 54th minute, UBC's Brennen Fuerst finally broke through, converting a crucial play to put the Thunderbirds in the lead.

The Cougars pushed for an equalizer in the final minutes, recording four additional shots after UBC's goal. They pushed forward with determination, looking to break through the T-Birds' defense. Despite their efforts to generate an offensive spark, UBC's backline stifled MRU's advances, ultimately leading to a narrow 1-0 defeat.

Both Mount Royal and UBC will now head east for next week's U SPORTS nationals in Oshawa, Ontario. Hosted by Ontario Tech, the tournament will run from November 7th to 10th, with all the action available to watch on CBC Sports and CBC Gem.