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Nanaimo United makes Jackson Cup final

The United Div. 1 men’s soccer team won its semifinal match this past weekend.

Nanaimo United will play for the cup.

The United Div. 1 men’s soccer team won its semifinal match this past weekend and will compete for the Jackson Cup, the Vancouver Island Soccer League’s top prize.

United defeated the V.I. Wave by a 3-1 score Saturday at Merle Logan Field.

Lucian Serban, Nanaimo coach, said he challenged his guys to score within the first 10 minutes and they bettered that with a goal seven minutes in.

“That was a very tactical game,” Serban said. “We got to 3-0 at halftime and basically we wanted to close the game and pretend we’re playing against a very strong team and try to defend.”

Evan Jacques scored the first goal for Nanaimo and then Daragh Fitzgerald scored a pair.

Serban said he thinks 1999 was the last time Nanaimo United made the Jackson Cup final, so it’s fair to say guys are happy they’ve made it back.

“They’re very excited,” the coach said.

United will play Cowichan FC, the division’s first-place team, in the cup final April 2 in Victoria.

“We are totally different teams, different styles,” Serban said. “They’re a very physical team, they play long balls and lots of power; we are a more technical team, more tactical.”

The coach said it’s been special to see his group make it this far.

“When I took this team, there wasn’t a very good atmosphere in the team…” Serban said. “We turned it around, with everybody’s help, and we have an awesome group here now. We’re like brothers and it makes me feel so good when I see them helping each other … with everything, from missing socks to more important things.”

GAME ON … The Jackson Cup final will be April 2 at 2:30 p.m. at Royal Athletic Park. Also competing in the VISL’s championship weekend at RAP will be the Mid Isle Mariners, a combined Ladysmith-Nanaimo club. The Div. 3 Mariners will play for the George Pearkes Challenge Cup at noon, followed by the U21 Mariners playing for the George Smith Cup at 2:30 p.m.

sports@nanaimobulletin.com