VIU on to PACWEST Championship Game; Qualify for CCAA Nationals

[Story: PACWEST Media. Original posting here.]

Billy Bagiopoulos, as he's done all year for the VIU Mariners, came through with flying colours in the PACWEST semifinals Saturday evening scoring both goals in a 2-0 victory over the Douglas College Royals.

VIU, the tournament's No. 2 seed, advance to Sunday's gold-medal game against No. 1-seed Langara College.

Both teams were tentative in the first half Saturday, trying to get a feel for the game and for the other side's plan. While neither team generated sustained pressure in the first 45 minutes, Douglas had a glorious look from Zachari Ouariti-Zerouali but he was denied by Mariners keeper Kevin Picard. The game went to the second half at 0-0.

The game remained without a goal until the 52nd minute when Mariners leading scorer and PACWEST All-Star Bagiopoulos got a hold of a bouncing ball just outside the 18-yard-box and unleashed a laser of a volley into the top right corner of the net.

It would prove to be all the scoring the Mariners needed on the night but Bagiopoulos completed his brace in the 78th minute, breaking free from the Douglas back line to slot the ball home making it 2-0.

The VIU win moves them on to the PACWEST final Sunday afternoon against Langara.

Both teams in Sunday's final qualify for the CCAA National Championship as Langara has an automatic berth as tournament host.

Kickoff Sunday is set for 4:30 p.m.