Mount Royal Advances to Finals with 2–0 Victory Over UQTR

TORONTO, November 7 — The Mount Royal Cougars are through to the 2025 U SPORTS Men’s Soccer Championship final, with a pair of goals from forward Chanan Chanda, the reigning national rookie of the year. The Canada West champions defeated the UQTR Patriotes 2–0 on Friday night in the second semifinal at Varsity Stadium. Mount Royal asserted themselves early, dictating possession and tempo from the opening whistle. Their persistence paid off in the 17th minute when Chanda scored his first of the game, capitalizing on a defensive lapse to slot home the opener and give the Cougars a 1–0 lead. UQTR, the regular-season champions from the RSEQ conference, struggled to generate clear scoring opportunities against a well-organized Mount Royal back line. Despite firing 12 total shots, the Patriotes were limited to just three on target, all comfortably handled by Cougars goalkeeper Sjard Strauss. Mount Royal continued to look the more threatening side after halftime, and their advantage doubled in the 72nd minute. Jonathan Walter delivered a precise feed into the box, where Chanda finished clinically to secure his second goal of the game and effectively seal the result. UQTR’s frustration grew late in the match, compounded by a red card to Doryan Soualem in the 88th minute, which ended any remaining hopes of a comeback. Looking Ahead With the win, Mount Royal advances to Sunday’s national championship final at 2 p.m., where they will meet the York Lions in a clash of conference champions. UQTR will compete in the bronze medal match earlier that morning at 11 a.m.