Canadian Mennonite University

Kicking Off A New Copa Season In Brandon

The indoor soccer tournament that began at CMU four years ago continues to gain momentum and awareness as the Copa de la Paz enters its first leg of the 2015 festival this weekend in Brandon, Manitoba. The tournament first received mention last June in an article in Canada's foremost Soccer Magazine, Inside Soccer and even more recently on the Futsal Canada website.

2014 saw the Blazers come within a half of capturing their first Copa Championship. Leading by three goals at the restart, a sending-off early in the second half resulted in a shift in momentum that allowed the University of St-Boniface to come from behind to steal a 7-5 win in front of a raucous crowd of disappointed futsal fans in the Loewen.

"That is sometimes the way sport goes," says veteran head coach Russell Willms, "we were able to play some great futsal through the round-robin stage to put ourselves in the best possible position to win in the end, and in a one game, winner takes all, misfortune can leave you wishing for a different outcome."

The Blazers finished first after the 2014 round-robin and will look to start the new season off on the right foot on Saturday when they kick-off first with the hosts, ACC Cougars, before settling in on Sunday with two monumental tilts with the defending champions from USB and rivals Providence Pilots.

"Certainly Western Manitoba is in for a futsal treat this weekend," adds Willms, "the matches that we will be featuring in on Saturday and Sunday in the ACC gym will be incredibly fast, skillful and entertaining for everyone in attendance."

The Copa de la Paz will return to Winnipeg on February 7th and 8th when the second leg of the tournament visits the University of St-Boniface and later that month as the tournament travels south to Otterburne for the third leg.

CMU will play the Brandon Bobcats in a pre-tournament friendly this Saturday afternoon at 1pm in the Brandon University gymnasium before their Cup kicks-off at 6pm at Assiniboine Community College.

 

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