The women's soccer championship between the Navy Vikings and Gold Vikings will begin at 6 p.m., followed by the men's championship between the Navy Vikings and Gold Vikings at 8 p.m. Admission to the soccer championships is free. Meanwhile, Thursday's rugby championships will feature the Bruins and Thunder in the women's final at 6 p.m. and the Hawks and Knights in the men's final at 7:30 p.m. Admission for rugby is $3.
Underdogs and Close Matchups Set the Stage
This year's men's soccer championship features two teams that exceeded expectations throughout the season. Jeffrey Guinea, a senior majoring in manufacturing engineering and goalkeeper for the Gold Vikings, said both teams have embraced the role of underdog.
"Two underdog teams that were told multiple times we would be eliminated in the first round proved everyone wrong," Guinea said. "We're not done. This will be a fun and entertaining final for everyone."
However, the Gold Vikings did not have an easy path to the championship. Guinea said the team struggled early in the season before finding its rhythm.
"We struggled in the beginning of the season. We lost games and frustration got to us. But we didn't let that get into our minds," Guinea said. "We told ourselves we would bounce back and be in the finals. Here we are."
For Guinea, reaching the championship is especially meaningful because of the team's turnaround and the relationships built throughout the season.
"It feels amazing. I thought we wouldn't make it. We proved that we belong here," Guinea said. "I get to share this with my brothers. It's a feeling that will never leave because we fought hard to be here."
Similarly, rugby coordinator Sam Scandurra, a sophomore majoring in business, expects highly competitive championship games. According to Scandurra, the balance between teams has made this one of the most exciting rugby seasons in recent memory.
"The competition has been on a knife's edge all semester, with any team capable of coming away with a win," Scandurra said. "Both the Knights and Hawks and the Bruins and Thunder are evenly matched teams."
Scandurra said fans can expect close contests and an energetic atmosphere.
"Both championship games are going to be exciting," Scandurra said. "It's going to be close, it's going to be intense, and there are going to be some big tackles. Don't be surprised if one of the two games goes into extra time."
Additionally, Scandurra encouraged students who have never watched rugby to attend.
"Rugby is exciting to watch because it combines huge hits but no pads and a continuous fight for the ball with no pauses in the action," Scandurra said. "Any player can impact the game on both offense and defense, and the intensity can be felt not just on the field but in the stands as well."
Students can attend the soccer championships free of charge on Wednesday. Tickets for Thursday's rugby championships cost $3 and can be purchased through the BYU-Idaho ticket office.
0 Comments