UFV soccer begins competition despite their season being cancelled
Earlier in the month, Canada West settled on postponing their initial call on the season, which was scheduled for Oct. 8 or sooner, to give themselves until November to make a decision. They ended up releasing their decision on Oct. 15, but just the next day, UFV soccer played a match. The women’s soccer team played their fall opening match against TWU for their new group series, which features four teams (UFV, TWU, UBC, and the Whitecaps FC Girls Elite). Soccer is not considered a second-term sport; however, it shows how quickly UFV was able to accommodate their players with chances to compete this year.
The men’s team played the next day, beginning their run in the Fraser Valley Soccer League. They and TWU decided to join the league to compete with teams from around the Valley, giving them opportunities to play serious competition. Abby United, a squad loaded with Cascades alumni, served as the Cascades’ first test in their new league. UFV’s team passed with flying colours, as they defeated the hometown group 5-1. So far, the women’s team is 0-2, while the men’s team is 2-1 in their respective groups.
The news that all second-term sports would be cancelled for 2020-21 was unfortunate for the Cascades, as virtually all of their varsity teams had rebuilt and updated their rosters, in terms of both athletes and coaches. The debut would have signalled some brand-new teams for fans to watch if conference play had been allowed to commence, but on Oct. 15, Canada West and U Sports decided to cancel all seasons. However, other competitions emerged.
At first, UFV golf was the only program competing, as they had joined a new league called the B.C. Rivalry Series. It features a number of single-day golf tournaments, giving several schools a chance to get some practice games in while conference play is on hold.
The question that remains is whether or not UFV’s volleyball, basketball, wrestling, and rugby teams will be able to compete somehow this year. Volleyball has been practising, as confirmed by their social media, but there isn’t any other indication that suggests competitive play is coming soon. Basketball has not announced anything yet, but two women’s players have opted to turn professional, and two current men’s players, Daniel Adediran and Kenan Hadzovic are already signed to the local professional team, the Fraser Valley Bandits, who play in the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL). The league has a deal with U Sports that allows players to sign developmental agreements so that they can play without jeopardizing their U Sports eligibility. Each player has five total years in U Sports, but all current players from UFV basketball that have decided to turn professional have done so without compromising their remaining eligible seasons with the programs. The other sports, wrestling and women’s rugby sevens have not announced potential seasons; however, that could change soon due to there being no scheduled competition till the fall of 2021. Despite these challenges, the Cascades continue to adapt to the circumstances of COVID-19.
(Drew Hays/Unsplash)
