Box Score In a hard-fought battle at Vaso's Field, the Mount Royal Cougars fell short against StFX with a final score of 2-1. A late push in the second half showcased the Cougars' resilience, but it wasn't enough to overcome the X-Men's early lead.

The first half saw multiple chances for both sides, with StFX's Logan Rieck and Noah MacIntyre testing the Cougars' defense early on. Mount Royal's Ethan Keen and Joshua Flaksman responded with strong attempts, only to be stopped by StFX goalie Samuel Diltz, who made a series of key saves.

The game opened with physical play from both teams, as fouls were exchanged early. Mount Royal midfielders Ethan Keen and Hyunsoo Ryu fronted the Cougars' attack, winning corner kicks and putting pressure on StFX's defense. Keen's and Ryu's corner kicks led to multiple shot attempts, but Diltz stood tall, denying headers and close-range shots from Kwasi Oteng-Frimpong and Joshua Flaksman.

StFX opened scoring, breaking through first in the 34th minute with a goal from Cameron Shaw to make it 1-0. Mount Royal responded quickly, with Miguel Da Rocha testing Diltz, but the StFX keeper remained steady, keeping the score 1-0 heading into halftime.

The Cougars started the second half with a goalkeeper change, replacing Sjard Strauss with rookie Bryce Benton. Benton was immediately tested, saving three shots in the opening minutes. However, in the 57th minute, StFX increased their lead to 2-0 with a goal from Isaac VanWychen.

Refusing to give up, Mount Royal responded just two minutes later, as Joshua Flaksman scored with a well-timed assist from Skyler Rogers, narrowing the gap to 2-1. The Cougars pushed hard, dominating possession and creating chances through Flaksman, Timon Haetscher, and substitutes Felix Liebich and Dawid Dudek. Despite their efforts and several late corner kicks, StFX goalkeeper Samuel Diltz held firm, securing the win for his side.

Despite the outcome, the Cougars' season was defined by teamwork and determination, earning their first Canada West silver medal and a second straight U SPORTS National Championship appearance. With a strong foundation in place, the Cougars are poised to build on this success and aim for more in the coming season.