The playoff race came to an end Sunday afternoon in Squamish.
And for the Kwantlen Eagles women’s soccer team, so did their PACWEST season.
The Eagles needed a victory over the Quest Kermodes to qualify for postseason play, but came up short in a 3-0 loss.
In a game where even a tie wouldn’t be enough, the Eagles found their task that much more difficult after just 15 minutes when the Kermodes scored off a corner kick. Two more Quest goals when Kwantlen was pressing for a tying goal decided the game.
The Eagles finished the season at 5-4-5 (won-tied-lost), three points back of the fourth-place Langara Falcons and four back of Quest.
Kwantlen went into the weekend needing two wins, and got the first one with a victory over the Falcons in Vancouver.
North Surrey Secondary graduate Kathleen Gratz netted the first goal in the 25th minute, and added a second with five minutes to play when Queen Elizabeth graduate Harveer Rai notched an insurance goal.
Chelsea Jewell of North Delta earned the shutout.
The Kwantlen Eagles men’s team slipped into the PACWEST playoffs on a tiebreaker, after they and the Langara Falcons finished tied for fourth place. Kwantlen (6-5-3) had a better goal differential, and had a win and a tie in two head-to-head games with the Falcons.
The Eagles played to a 3-3 tie with Langara Saturday in Vancouver, and were happy to get the draw after falling behind by three goals.
North Delta Secondary graduate Jagbir Sangha notched Kwantlen’s first goal off a corner kick, then Murtada Almatrood made it 3-2 off a penalty kick with 15 minutes to play.
Knowing a loss would end their playoff hopes, Kwantlen pulled even with 10 minutes left when Dalton San of Surrey converted a rebound off a shot from Jake Starheim of North Delta.
Sunday in Squamish against the Quest Kermodes, the Eagles needed a win and again had to come from behind.
Eagles goalkeeper Kyle Nairn stopped a penalty early in the game, but was beaten 15 minutes into the second half and Quest had a 1-0 lead.
Almatrood scored off a penalty to tie the contest, then Starheim scored in injury time for the win.
“For the second straight day we made it very difficult on ourselves,” said Eagle head coach Ajit Braich. “But the players were able to rise to the occasion. It was a great team performance for the second straight day, everyone played their part.”
Kwantlen is back in Squamish next weekend for the four-team PACWEST provincial playoffs, and will face the first-place Douglas College Royals in a semifinal game Saturday.
The gold and bronze medal games will be played Sunday.
