Home sweet home: VIU wins men’s soccer national title
NANAIMO — A steady downpour did nothing to dampen the party, as Vancouver Island University proved they are the class of Canadian men’s collegiate soccer.
The Mariners claimed the CCAA National Championship on home turf with a 1-0 win over PACWEST rival Douglas College on Saturday night at Merle Logan Field. More than 1,000 fans braved pouring rain and a tense second half to watch the home team capture a gold medal.
“Just pure happiness,” Mariners coach Bill Merriman told NanaimoNewsNOW on the pitch after the game. “We’ve worked for this. I fought to try to get Nationals here…and we didn’t disappoint our hometown.”