It was overcast and a cool breeze was in the air as the University of Victoria Vikes and the Mount Royal Cougars fought to keep their season going in the semifinal at Field #2 in Calgary. Both teams representing the top of their Canada West conferences, as the Vikes came into playoffs second in the Pacific division, and the Cougars are the Prairie division champions.

In the 17th minute, Alex Moody is bring the ball down the field on the left side, he gives the ball to Yassin Guitouni who sends it right back to Moody and sends are hard shot on net, which beats Sjard Strauss high and gets the first goal of this semifinal matchup, the Vikes lead 1-0.

The Cougars aren't down for long as in the 18th minute, Jonathan Walter has a free kick just pass half in the attacking zone, he sends the ball to Alex Kemsley who's stationed to the right of the net, Kemsley puts a header toward the front of the net and Chanan Chanda gets a header and beats Callum Weir as the header deflects down into the net. The Cougars tie the game, less than a minute after giving up a goal.

In the 30th minute, Walter has the ball just past half, he sends the ball up to Chanda, who is one-one with VIkes defender Fin Tugwell, and is now one on one with Weir, as Weir comes out to challenge, Chanda chips the ball over Weir's head and nets his second goal of the game, the Cougars lead 2-1.

The lead is not on the Cougars side for long, as the Vikes throw the ball in while in the attacking zone, it comes off Cougars defenders, Matteo Hilton is right there and just outside the keepers box, he sends the ball on net Strauss gets his fingers on the ball, but it's not enough as it ricochets of his hand, and the bar and goes in. It is now tied 2-2 in the 33rd minute.

Moody is handed a yellow card during the 37th minute, for unsporting behavior.
The Cougars and Vikes are tied at two as the game heads into halftime. The score represents the back and fourth nature of this semifinal battle.
Finn Marshall for the Cougars has a good chance, getting a header on the ball in front of the net, but sends it high. Cougars seem to be keeping the ball in the attacking zone, as Tim Beckedahl is able to get a shot out, Weir makes the save. With a corner throw in the Vikes try to generate something as defender Moody sends a long shot on net that goes high.

The Vikes get another corner kick, Alex Kemsley gets a defensive head on the ball, the ball deflects to Tugwell who gets a foot on it and at the top of the keepers box Hilton sends a shot on net, and is just out of the reach of a leaping Strauss, Hilton gets his second goal of the game, and the Vikes lead 3-2 in the 60th minute.

The Cougars are trying to generate the offence but are not capitalizing on the chances. With a delay within the game, Cougars captain Kemsley huddles his team in, to get some words of wisdom out in hopes of keeping their season going. Creating commotion in front of the net, the Cougars are generating the energy needed for a comeback.

As the Cougars apply the pressure, bodies are flying everywhere while they are in the attacking zone, Clement Guay to Josh Flaksman from top of the box, he gets a shot out and ties the game 3-3,
getting it past Weir in the right corner of the net, in the 90th minute. Lots of action in the last minute as Hilton Matteo Hilton gets the second yellow card of the game for UVIC.

For the second time in this playoff weekend the Vikes are headed into overtime, after the Cougars pressured paid off and they tied it late in the game.
The crowd is well into this game. The Vikes are getting the chances, with shot attempts from Jag Zaharia and Takin Keshavarz but Joe Green and Kemsley are laying their bodies on the line for the
Cougars and blocking these chances.

In the 101st minute, Vikes mid-fielder Keshavarz is handed a yellow card. The pressure has switched as the Cougars get a free kick and they are creating commotion in their attacking zone.
Kemsley is handed a yellow card, the first one for the Cougars this game.

In the 112th minute, the Vikes are coming down the field, Evan Larson leads the ball across the field and is just inside the box, sends a shot toward the net, Strauss doesn't get hands on it but the ball veers wide of the net.

Vikes forward, Wesley Jones is taking the ball down the right side of the field, looking like a opportunity, Guay lays out his body and makes a sliding defensive play, to stop the Vikes offensive momentum.

The Cougars and Vikes are headed to penalty kicks with both teams season on the line, and it will be decided with penalties.

Strauss and Weir are ready to man the net for their teams, and lead their team to victory, and an opportunity to get to the finals. As the Penalty kicks keep going, with each team scoring when they need to, it comes down to the goalkeepers for each team.

Weir sets up at the top of the box, takes the shot and it's sent high. Strauss sets up with the Cougars season on the line, he sends the shot to the right of the net, past Weir, and has won the game for the Cougars.

The Mount Royal University Cougars are now headed to the Canada West Final after a wild and crazy game, with home field advantage. Head Coach Ryan Gyaki had to say about the mindset heading into penalties "you're a little bit more relaxed in the sense of the game is done and it comes down to just the individual. So, everyone's done everything they can do. All the running and suffering is over and it's just a very exciting moment." Adding praise to the Vikes, and this exciting semifinal match with "credit to Victoria and all their players and everyone involved with this game. I've played a lot of football, and I've been coaching here for many years." Highlighting this match he adds "probably the most exciting game that I've ever been part of, for sure. A lot of drama, a good, spirited game and Victoria was amazing. Sadly, in a game that's that close and that exciting, someone does have to lose and we're super happy we came out on top."

The Cougars are set to face either the University of Fraser Valley Cascades, or the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds, with home field advantage.