It has been a historic season for Vancouver Island’s professional soccer team, Pacific FC, and it all culminates on Sunday with the club barely winning their first-ever Canadian Premier League championship.
In their third season in the CPL, Pacific FC made huge strides, proving to be one of the best teams in the league and earning a spot in the final.
This Sunday, the club will face Forge FC – a team based in Hamilton, Ont. – whose winner will be dubbed the 2021 league champions.
The game kicks off on Sunday, December 5 at 1:30 p.m. PST and takes place at Forge FC, Tim Hortons Field in Hamilton, the same ground where the CFL’s Hamilton Tiger-Cats play.
Pacific FC have just had a monumental season for the club, finishing with their best regular season record to date with 13 wins, 6 draws and 9 losses – good for third place in the CPL standings.
In the process, the club scored 47 goals, the best in the league, against opponents, with forwards Terran Campbell finishing with 11 and Alejandro Díaz scoring 10.
“It was great to have fans back in the stadium, to be able to enjoy a game live. It has been great for the players and for the staff to feel this energy and to have the support of the fans, ”said Katie Hamilton, Digital and Stadium Host for Pacific FC.
“Football is growing, it’s completely changed here on the island… We are building things and Pacific FC has played a big role in that this season and in the community,” Hamilton said in an interview with CHEK.
One of the season highlights for Pacific FC came on August 26, when the Islander club beat the Vancouver Whitecaps, a team that plays in MLS (Major League Soccer), by the final score of 4-3 .
“Beating an MLS team was a big time, it was historic and we will never forget it,” Hamilton told CHEK News.
READ MORE: Pacific FC advance to Canadian Championship quarter-finals after knocking down Whitecaps
Hamilton suggested that playing in the Canadian Championships against MLS teams like the Vancouver Whitecaps and Toronto FC gave players valuable experience in the middle of their regular season, but all eyes are now on the big game. Sunday.
“Winning a championship would be huge… getting it for PFC would show that we are a soccer community, that we are here to play and to show Canada what we have,” she added.
While Sunday’s game will mark the first time Pacific FC reach the league final, the same cannot be said for Forge FC.
The Hamilton-based club have won the championship over the past two seasons and, with the league only in its third year of existence, this makes them the only team capable of calling themselves CPL champions.
Pacific FC will have an uphill battle as the club have yet to beat Forge FC this year, going 0-3 against them in the regular season. Looking even further ahead, Pacific FC haven’t beaten Forge FC in three years of CPL action at this point.
“I think we can look forward to a very exciting and entertaining game because Forge are a top-notch team,” said Hamilton, noting that Forge’s team have turned out to be an extremely tough opponent.
Although Forge FC have beaten Pacific in three games this season and lead the table with a 16-2-10 record, Hamilton believes the purple and teal representing Vancouver Island will come to play.
“We’re looking good, we’ve had a great season and they’re ready. They are ready for this game, ”said Hamilton. “That’s what you’re playing for!” “
As the PFC colors become more common in the community, club staff say the successful season, including the Canadian Premier League final, can help provide a platform to introduce the game to more people, especially the young in the making. football players.
An official watch party for Sunday’s game will be held in downtown Victoria at JR Slims, however, tickets for the event are sold out.
The December 5 game will also be broadcast on Telus Optik TV and online at onefootball.ca, with kick off at 1:30 p.m. PST
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