November 15, 2004
WESTERN MEN CLAIM CIS BRONZE
MONTREAL (CIS) - Wes Vanderlinden broke a 1-1 tie in the 59th minute as the Western Ontario Mustangs claimed the bronze medal with a 2-1 win over the Saint Mary's Huskies at the 2004 CIS men's soccer championship at Molson Stadium.
Vanderlinden, a fourth-year midfielder from Hamilton, fired a blast off the right goal post into the net from 12 yards out past goalkeeper Jamil Ibrahim for the winning tally, his third goal of the tournament.
Fourth-ranked Western, who lost 2-0 to Montreal in the 2003 bronze medal game, claims a first medal at the men's soccer nationals since winning back-to-back titles in 1998 and 1999.
Defending silver medallist Saint Mary's, who entered the championship as the second seed, loses for only the second time in 2004 in regular and post-season play. The Huskies lost 3-2 to UNB on Oct. 24.
Alexander Devereaux, a sophomore midfielder from Lower Sackville, N.S. had opened the scoring in the 17th minute for Saint Mary's with a high shot over keeper Haidar Al-Shaibani, a freshman from London, Ont.
Sophomore midfielder Gentjan Dervishi tied the game two minutes into the second half on a penalty kick awarded on a hand-ball in the box. The London native made no mistake, shooting high in the middle of the net as Ibrahim, a fifth-year veteran from Halifax, was diving to his left.
The OUA champion Mustangs could have easily added to their lead following Vanderlinden's game-winner with numerous opportunities from close range in the final 30 minutes. For the game, Western had a 24-15 edge in shots towards goal, and a 13-8 advantage in shots on goal.
Adidas player-of-the-game honours for Western went to Adam Legg, a sophomore defender from Aylmer, Que. Rookie midfielder Istvan Lakner, from Dartmouth, N.S. claimed the award for Saint Mary's.
Vanderlinden, a fourth-year midfielder from Hamilton, fired a blast off the right goal post into the net from 12 yards out past goalkeeper Jamil Ibrahim for the winning tally, his third goal of the tournament.
Fourth-ranked Western, who lost 2-0 to Montreal in the 2003 bronze medal game, claims a first medal at the men's soccer nationals since winning back-to-back titles in 1998 and 1999.
Defending silver medallist Saint Mary's, who entered the championship as the second seed, loses for only the second time in 2004 in regular and post-season play. The Huskies lost 3-2 to UNB on Oct. 24.
Alexander Devereaux, a sophomore midfielder from Lower Sackville, N.S. had opened the scoring in the 17th minute for Saint Mary's with a high shot over keeper Haidar Al-Shaibani, a freshman from London, Ont.
Sophomore midfielder Gentjan Dervishi tied the game two minutes into the second half on a penalty kick awarded on a hand-ball in the box. The London native made no mistake, shooting high in the middle of the net as Ibrahim, a fifth-year veteran from Halifax, was diving to his left.
The OUA champion Mustangs could have easily added to their lead following Vanderlinden's game-winner with numerous opportunities from close range in the final 30 minutes. For the game, Western had a 24-15 edge in shots towards goal, and a 13-8 advantage in shots on goal.
Adidas player-of-the-game honours for Western went to Adam Legg, a sophomore defender from Aylmer, Que. Rookie midfielder Istvan Lakner, from Dartmouth, N.S. claimed the award for Saint Mary's.
