Abbotsford, BC - Parman Minhas scored a goal and drew the penalty the Taylor Richardson would convert as the UFV Cascades knocked off the Victoria Vikes 2-0 on Saturday night.

The win puts UFV one step closer to a guaranteed playoff spot moving to 6-5-2 on the season, while the Vikes dropped to 2-8-4.

The Cascades, who currently hold the fourth and final playoff spot in the pacific division, managed to gain ground on both the team in front of them and the team behind them as UNBC (6-4-3) and UBC Okanagan (4-4-4) played to a draw earlier in the day.

UFV got off to a great start in the match, as Minhas' corner kick curled directly into the net in the 15^th minute to open the scoring.

??MSOC | 15' Parman Minhas opens the scoring directly from the corner kick!

??@goUFV 1@uvicvikes 0#weclimbweconquer pic.twitter.com/wRhpmvpXDs
— UFV Cascades (@UFVCascades) October 16, 2022
 

Just moments later Minhas caused problems for the Vikes defence yet again. He cut dangerously across the Victoria box before being fouled to set up Richardson on the spot kick. Richardson seemed to convert his attempt, but the effort was called back to be retaken as a Cascades player encroached on the area before the ball was struck. He would make no mistake on the second attempt as well, burying his seventh goal of the season to the left of Vikes keeper Harjot Nijar.

??MSOC | 22' He had to take it twice due to encroachment, but Taylor Richardson buries the PK and doubles our lead! ??????

??@goUFV 2@uvicvikes 0 pic.twitter.com/n7GjgF1psV
— UFV Cascades (@UFVCascades) October 16, 2022
 

Head coach Tom Lowndes praised the play of Minhas on the day.

"He's had some injury issues at the start of the season, and he's been trying to get back fit. He has wanted more minutes, and with performances like that he's earning them. I thought he was really good."

Victoria's best chance of the night came in the 28^th minute as Fin Tugwell found a loose ball off a corner, but his point-blank shot was turned away by a brilliant reaction save from Jackson Cowx.

??MSOC | 28' Jackson Cowx with a great save to keep the visitors off the scoreboard!

??@goUFV 2@uvicvikes 0#weclimbweconquer pic.twitter.com/sR3xrunivs
— UFV Cascades (@UFVCascades) October 16, 2022
 

Any possibility for a Vikes comeback was stymied in the 86^th minute as Jonas Zimmerman was ejected after picking up his second yellow card.  

UFV goalkeeper Jackson Cowx made five saves to pick up his third clean sheet of the year for the Cascades.

The Cascades are back in action next weekend as they host the UNBC Timberwolves in a pair of games where UFV can guarantee their appearance in this year's Canada West Playoffs. Meanwhile, the Vikes conclude their season at home next week with matchups against Thomson Rivers and UBC Okanagan.

"We might need results next week, or we might be playing for seeding," noted Lowndes.

"We are just going to approach it one game at a time. The biggest thing now is us getting a result on Friday night"