The UFV Cascades soccer teams have a new home pitch starting in September.
After playing their home games at Panther Field at Abbotsford Senior Secondary the past two years, it was announced last week that the Cascades men’s and women’s soccer squads will be moving to the MRC (Matsqui Recreation Centre) Sports Complex starting this fall.
The brand new complex, which officially opened in April, features three synthetic turf fields located between MRC, Colleen and Gordie Howe Middle School and W.J. Mouat Secondary.
The Cascades will play on the south pitch, also known as Field No. 4.
“It’s a fantastic new facility, and we’re happy to be one of the first user groups,” said Steve Tuckwood, UFV director of athletics and campus recreation. “The city has made a considerable investment in amateur sport, and we appreciate being a beneficiary of that.”
The Cascades soccer teams open the Canada West campaign with a home doubleheader on Sept. 2.
The UFV women takes on their local rivals, the Trinity Western University Spartans, at 5:30 p.m. in a game which also happens to be the first Canada West women’s game of the fall.
The Cascades men then host the Thompson Rivers WolfPack, with kickoff set for 8 p.m.
The nine-week men’s regular season concludes on Oct. 23, before conference quarter-final action on Oct. 29 and the men’s Final Four on Nov. 5 and 6.
A total of eight men’s playoff berths are up for grabs in 2016, with four Pacific and four Prairie division teams qualifying for Canada West post-season play.
The women’s eight-week regular season wraps up Oct. 23, with 12 teams competing in regional playoff action Oct. 29.
As was the case last season, the Canada West women’s soccer season culminates in a six-team championship tournament – the Select Six – which will be hosted by the highest remaining Pacific Division team Nov. 3 to 6.
The Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) national championships run Nov. 10 to 13, with the men’s tournament hosted by the University of Guelph and the women’s tourney hosted by Acadia University.
The men’s team earned a Canada West bronze last season, while the women lost in round one of the playoffs.
For more information on the Cascades soccer program, visit ufvcascades.ca.
