The top-seeded Brandon University Men's Soccer team closed their season today in a grueling, dramatic MCAC Championship Final that went 30 minutes of extra time, ultimately falling 2-1 to the CMU Blazers at the HLC Field.

The loss came after a fantastic season that saw the Bobcats secure the regular season title and their first-ever undefeated home schedule, but the Championship trophy slipped away in a fiercely contested final that lasted 110 minutes.

A Defensive Struggle

The first half was a tense defensive battle, with neither side willing to give an inch. Both keepers were outstanding, with CMU's Nicholas Peterson turning away four early Bobcat attempts. Bobcat keeper Matheus Souza also held firm, sending the teams into the break scoreless.

The Blazers drew first blood in the second half, scoring at the 59:25 mark, putting the Bobcats in a difficult position.

Ruffini Rallies the Bobcats

Down a goal and facing intense pressure, the Bobcats found their equalizer through determination and grit. Midfielder Zachary Lamb delivered a perfect pass to Matheus Ruffini, who found the back of the net at the 68:13 mark to tie the game at 1-1. The home crowd erupted, fueling the Bobcats' push through the remainder of regulation and into extra time.

Keeper Souza kept the Bobcats alive, making numerous critical saves in the second half and overtime periods, battling against a Blazers team that registered 20 shots throughout the match.

Double Overtime Drama

With the score locked at 1-1 after 90 minutes of regulation and a tense first overtime period, the match moved into the second 10-minute overtime frame. Unfortunately, it was CMU's Nicholas Pavao who delivered the decisive blow, converting a penalty kick at 108:54 to give the Blazers the 2-1 lead late in the game.

The Bobcats showed resilience to the final whistle, but the late goal proved insurmountable. 

Championship Weekend Wrap-Up

While the Men's team came up short, the Women's team secured their third consecutive MCAC Championship earlier today, capturing the title with a dominant 3-0 shutout win. The women will now advance to the CCAA National Championships. A huge thank you to all the fans who supported both teams throughout the season and this incredible Final Four weekend!