Lethbridge – Coming off the most successful season in the program's history, the Lethbridge Pronghorn men's soccer team heads to Vancouver to face the 10th ranked UBC Thunderbirds in a one-game playoff with a berth in the final four on the line.
The 'Horns and Thunderbirds will hit the field at Thunderbird Stadium Friday night at 8:00 MST. The game will also be streamed live on www.canadawest.tv.
The 2016 Canada West season was the most successful season ever for the men's soccer program, setting new program marks in wins (8) and points (26) and earned the programs first post-season berth since 2000.
Entering the playoffs, the 'Horns (8-6-2) are the hottest team in Canada West, undefeated in seven games, which included a six game winning streak that started with 3-2 win over the Thunderbirds September 25th. The 'Horns are the only team to beat the Thunderbirds (9-1-6) during the regular season this year and in fact they are the only team in Canada West to beat both division winners, after beating the Alberta Golden Bears as well.
Fifth-year midfielder Chris Rushworth continued his hot play, scoring once and adding two assists in the 'Horns 3-2 win over Calgary last Thursday and finished the conference schedule with a team leading seven goals. Stephen Primeau was second with six goals and Kendell Wiens was third with four goals.
Nolan French played 14 of 16 games this season in the 'Horns net and finished eighth in goals-against-average (GAA) at 1.26 and had four shutouts.
The Thunderbirds enter the post-season unbeaten in six games after losing to the 'Horns and have only given up four goals during that stretch. The T-Birds also allowed the fewest goals against this season in Canada West, allowing only 10 goals against in 16 games.
Goalkeeper Jason Roberts played in 10 of UBC's 16 games, leading the conference in GAA with a stingy 0.52 GAA and finished second in shutouts with six.
Offensively, the Thunderbirds had 10 players with at least one goal, Titouan Chopin led UBC with six tallies, while Kerman Pannu had five.
The University of Lethbridge is hosting a pre-game meet-up at BierCraft Wesbrook from 5:30pm - 6:45pm for team parents and supporters, and any interested University of Lethbridge alumni in the Vancouver area.
We will provide your game tickets, an appetizer and beverage at BierCraft prior to the game. Please email robb.engen@uleth.ca before Thursday October 27th at 5:00PM to confirm your attendance.
The men's soccer final four will be hosted by the highest remaining Prairie seed next weekend, with the four winners of this week's quarter-finals vying for the Canada West title.
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