For two hours of game time, the Holland College Hurricanes and the St. Thomas University Tommies battled in the trenches at Wickwire Field in Halifax, neither side giving the other an inch.
When Kazuya Iwasaki's final shot slapped off of Luke Ewen's keeper gloves, there was euphoria in the air.
The First Team All-Conference keeper lived up to his billing and came up clutch when his team needed him most, and the Tommies completed an unbeaten season within the ACAA, defeating the Hurricanes 2-1 overall and 3-1 on penalties to capture their second soccer conference championship since 2017, and the first on the men's side since the 2000-01 season.
"I've always loved being on the line facing a penalty shot," Ewen said. "For every shooter, my mindset is the same, all the pressure is on the shooter and they have everything to lose if they miss, and if they hit it, they just simply did their job."
Men's Soccer Player of the Year Brett Springer scored in regulations for the Tommies, while Iwasaki had the Hurricanes marker.
It was Iwasaki who opened the scoring in the 25th minute, drawing a free kick after a collision a few yards outside the 18-yard box. The First Team All-Conference member then stepped up and curled it past Ewen on his left side to put the Hurricanes up 1-0.
However, the Tommies kept pressing and getting opportunities, coming agonizingly close with a ball going off the post in the 34th minute.
Eventually, St. Thomas broke through and levelled the score before halftime, as Hurricanes keeper and Second Team All-Conference member Keegan MacKinnon got a piece of a Springer shot with his fingertips, but the ball just rolled over the line to make it 1-1 through 45 minutes.
"The goal he scored right before half was massive for us," Ewen said of the reigning ACAA Player of the Year. "He's been a great player for us year round, and you can always count on him to show up in big moments when you need him most."
From there, the two sides locked into a hard struggle in the howling winds and driving rain in the second half, with each side getting its share of opportunities as the final went to extra time, the only game of the weekend to go beyond 90 minutes.
Holland College had an opportunity to take the lead midway through the first session of extra time, but Hurricanes striker Mohammad Alhaj Ali was judged to be offside on his run. The Tommies then took over for the rest of the first 15-minute session, though MacKinnon was up to the task at the other end.
The Hurricanes again came out fast in the second session of extra time, but the Tommies' defense held firm, with Ryan MacKinnon and Ravtej Singh each stopping a shot from in tight, leading to Springer going the other way from midfield, but he was ultimately denied as the match shifted to penalties.
"I love the back line we have, and more importantly, I love everyone's commitment on the team to do whatever it takes to win," Ewen said. "I love the mentality on this team, and I have absolute trust in this back line."
From there, Ewen took over in the penalties, immediately flipping the momentum in the Tommies' favour after Hurricanes shooter Gustavo Guerrero missed wide with his opportunity, which St. Thomas consolidated through goals from MacKinnon, Takin Marvasti, and Singh.
The Tommies are now off to the CCAA Men's Soccer Championship, to be hosted by SAIT in Calgary from Nov. 11-14, and Ewen is incredibly confident in the team in front of him.
"I truly believe the sky is the limit for this team," he said. "This team is special. From the coaches to the players, this team is incredible, and I think we're going to be a real problem at nationals."