Pacific FC to Play First Canadian Premier League Playoff Match in Club History at Starlight Stadium
October 14, 2022 – Canadian Premier League (CPL) – Pacific FC News Release
Langford, BC – Playoff soccer is coming to Langford as Pacific Football Club host Atlético Ottawa in the first round of a home-and-awaysemifinalseries.
The two-legged series kicks off on Saturday, Oct. 15 at 4 p.m. PT/7 p.m. ET at Starlight Stadium. Pacific finished fourth in the Canadian Premier League’s regular season standings, lining up a semifinal meeting with the regular-season champion Ottawa to determine who will proceed to the CPL Final.
“To be playing this game at home, in front of our crowd, in our stadium we know we need a big performance, and we know we can go there with confidence,” said James Merriman, Head Coach, Pacific FC. “It’s important to start right tomorrow when we are playing in front of our fans.”
Following Saturday’s match, Pacific will travel to Ottawa for the second leg of the semifinal. That match will be played on Sunday, Oct. 23 at 11 a.m. PT/2 p.m. ET. The winner of the semifinal will be decided by aggregate score – the combined number of goals scored by the two teams over both games. Pacific’s record against Ottawa this season is 2-1-1.
Pacific is the defending CPL playoff champion,afterbeating Hamilton’s Forge FC in the 2021 CPL Final. Starlight Stadium has a capacity of more than 5,000 seats, and the Tridents look to fill those seats on Saturday.
“I’m an Island guy and to be able to play this match at home is huge,” said Pacific FC midfielder Josh Heard. “To play in big significant games is why we play the game, so this is fantastic for us.”
Home matches at Starlight Stadium hold a special appeal for Pacific’s younger fans. The Family Zone includes foosball, giant Jenga, a balloon artist, face painter, and the beloved Stewie the Starfish, Pacific’s mascot, who is known best for their backflips.
By finishing fourth in the regular season standing, earning the fourth of four CPL playoff spots, Pacificis not eligible to host the CPL Final. Following the semifinal round, two teams will meet in the CPL Final in Hamilton, Ont., Calgary, Alta. or Ottawa, Ont.. Potential dates and times are as follows:
If Forge FC host the CPL Final, the match will be played on Saturday, Oct. 29 at 4 p.m. ET at Tim Hortons Field in Hamilton, Ont.
If Cavalry FC host the CPL Final, the match will be played on Saturday, Oct. 29 at 4 p.m. ET/2 p.m. MT at ATCO Field in Calgary, Alta.
If Atlético Ottawa host the CPL Final, the match will be played on Sunday, Oct. 30 at 6 p.m. ET at TD Place in Ottawa, Ont.
Stay tuned to pacificfc.ca and follow the club on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook for the latest news.
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