Both UBC, 3-0 victors over the Fraser Valley Cascades in the other semifinal, and UVic advanced to the CIS national tournament Nov. 12-15 at York University in Toronto.
The Vikes and Thunderbirds meet in the conference final tonight, with both teams knowing they are guaranteed to play at nationals.
UVic got on the board first Friday in their semifinal when newly announced Canada West MVP Cam Hundal passed a through ball that Michael Baart converted at 30 minutes. Trinity Western, playing a man down with a red card assessed at 27 minutes, equalized through Taylor Johnson at 35 minutes.
Prette’s winner was taken from 30 yards out, finding the inside of the post.
Just moments before, UVic goalkeeper Noah Pawlowski had stopped Matthew Roxburgh of the Spartans on a point-blank breakaway shot.
“[Going to nationals] is a huge accomplishment because it’s our first CIS championship appearance since my first year,” said the fifth-year veteran Hundal, in a statement.
Hundal was the 2011 CIS championship MVP as a rookie when the Vikes last appeared and won the title at home at Centennial Stadium.
