M-SOCCER ROUNDUP: Final playoff spots are up for grabs
October 13 – Queen’s @ Nipissing
The No. 7 Queen's Gaels continued their strong play, grabbing another three points to take the top of the table in the OUA East Division as they fought off the Nipissing Lakers, 2-0, on a chilly Saturday afternoon in North Bay.
Forward Erik Koskins (Richmond Hill, Ont.) put the Gaels ahead in the 25th minute. Adrian Rochford (Ottawa, Ont.) stretched the lead to two in the 51st minute.
The Gaels outshot Nipissing 10-3, as Dylan Maxell made three saves to pick up the shutout win. Andrew Richard made eight saves in a losing effort for the Lakers.
Source: Queens Sports Info
Trent @ Carleton
Defence may win championships, but nothing gets fans more excited than a high-scoring contest full of stunning goals. If you are a fan of solid defending and tight, low-scoring contests, then Ravens Field was the last place to be this afternoon.
On a chilly day in the nation’s capital, the Carleton men’s soccer team made sure to indulge those who were looking for an abundance of goals, at the expense of the lowly Trent University Excalibur.
On the back of a first-half hat-trick from star striker Andrew Latty, the men hammered the visitors to the tune of 10-0. If you’re reading this, don’t refresh the page, that is not a mistake. The Ravens scored early and often, much to the delight of the home crowd, who were vocal right up until the final whistle.
Like most teams this season, the Excalibur had absolutely no answer for Latty’s pace and power. The second-year striker was toying with defenders, using his physicality and speed to create opportunities seemingly at will.
“Latty was killing them in the first 15 minutes, he really played some nice football and scored some nice goals,” Ravens head coach Sandy Mackie said following the match.
The Ottawa native opened the scoring in the eighth minute with a perfectly placed header after midfielder Joey Kewin lofted in an inviting cross to the back post. He then doubled the score in the 15th minute of play by latching on to the end of a long clearance and roasting the last defender for pace, before slotting the ball underneath a helpless Trent goalkeeper.
Striker Caki Simrooglu converted a penalty – that Latty won – four minutes later, before the star of the show completed his hat trick in the 22nd minute to make the score 4-0. The goal also added to his nation-leading tally for the season, which currently sits at 17.
The match was well and truly beyond reach at this point, but the Ravens weren’t finished. Not by a long shot.
Kewin added two more goals in very quick succession, and Carleton went into the break with an unassailable 6-0 lead. The Ravens had scored six goals in their previous three games combined, but on this day managed to equal that mark in only 45 minutes.
“At half time we put some of the subs on and changed it up to give the younger players some time, and still I thought Mekonen [Lovemore-White] did well, scoring a couple of really nice goals,” Mackie said.
It was the rookie striker who picked up right where Latty left off in the second-half, netting a hat-trick of his own to add insult to an already outrageous scoreline. Fellow first-year player Daud Dahir ensured that the Ravens hit double figures late in the contest, giving the men their most lopsided victory in recent memory.
Mackie acknowledged that there will be far more difficult tests to come once the playoffs roll around. At times, this contest seemed to be little more than a training session for the Ravens, as Trent simply could not get a foothold in the match.
The veteran coach was quick to point out that the team still needs to improve if they hope to beat some of the top-ranked teams in the nation – teams that they are bound to encounter come the post-season.
“Even in this game at times we looked a little bit disorganized in the middle and at the back, but we did fine overall,” he said. “It’s just a wait and see approach right now because we have to perform in the playoffs.”
With the win, Carleton kept pace with the Queen’s University Gaels atop the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) East division, as the two teams remain tied with 29 points apiece.
Source: Carleton Sports Info
UOIT @ Brock
The Brock University men's soccer team (1-7-4 OUA) kept their possible playoff hopes alive playing to a scoreless draw against the UOIT Ridgebacks (3-10-2) Saturday afternoon at home.
The Badgers started the first half dominating the ball and keeping UOIT stuck in their own half. The creativity of sophomore Sam Orlando (Woodbridge, Ont.) kept providing the rest of the team with countless opportunities.
However, the score would remain untouched for the first half, as both sophomore Dan Girdler (Toronto, Ont.) and freshman George Gill (Ennismore, Ont.) struck the crossbar.
The second half would prove to be a tough ride for the visitors as Brock continued attacking from different flanks and testing UOIT goalkeeper Travis Martin on different occasions.
Consequently, with twenty minutes remaining Brock seemed desperate to score and despite attempts to pull the trigger, two set pieces and two long distance shots were wasted as UOIT held up to obtain a point away from home.
In goal, junior goalkeeper Jake Sweetzer (Mississauga, Ont.) recorded three saves for his second shutout of the season. The Ridgebacks Travis Martin turned aside all nine shots he faced for the shutout.
Source: Brock Sports Info
Windsor @ Waterloo
The Warriors lost a tight battle to the Windsor Lancers on Saturday at Warrior Field by a score of 2-1. All of the scoring came in the first half with Chris Lanni's (Niagara Falls, Ont.) goal in the 27th minute standing as the winner.
Cristian Mayorga (Windsor, Ont.) picked up the other Lancer goal in the 9th minute while Victor Jiminez (Kitchener, Ont.) tallied the lone Warrior marker at the 39th minute.
Adam Weller (Keswick, Ont.) was credited with the loss for Waterloo, allowing two goals on seven shots while Lancer goalie Dejo Olabegi (Windsor, Ont.) made six saves for the win.
Source: Waterloo Sports Info
Western @ Laurier
The Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks men's soccer team had a chance to pull away from Western in the standings Saturday afternoon as the hosted the Mustangs.
A win would have pushed Laurier six points above Western in the OUA West Division, and in doing so, help them keep the Hawks ranked third in the conference going into the last few games of the season. The Hawks however couldn't hold off the Mustangs and the game ended in a 3-0 loss.
Western came out strong and scored early thanks to a goal by Eric Amato of Toronto, in the ninth minute. The Mustangs continued the pressure with a goal by Rudy James of Trinidad, in the 31st minute, leaving the Hawks trailing by two going into half time.
The Hawks would not fair any better in the second half giving up another goal to James to make the final score 3-0.
Contributing to the defeat was a strong Mustangs defence that was able to limit the Hawks to two shots in the game.
Source: Laurier Sports Info
McMaster @ Guelph
The Gryphon men’s soccer team faced off against a strong Marauder squad this afternoon (Oct. 13) and fell to their opponents 2-1 in their final home game of the 2012 season.
The two teams not only battled each other, but also had to face the unsavory, wet fall weather. The two teams matched up well, but the Gryphons struggled to control the ball and maintain possession, which gave the Marauders the advantage on the pitch.
McMaster opened the scoring at minute 27, with a goal from Gersi Xhuti (Etobicoke, ON) that Gryphon goal keep, Chad Paparoni (Burlington, ON) had no chance of stopping.
The Marauders continued to dominate the first half of the contest by quickly challenging Gryphon possessions, hampering Guelph’s passing and play execution ability.
The Gryphons tied up the game in minute 49, after an Ethan Danielli (Guelph, ON) cross found the foot of defender Justin Springer (Burlington, ON).
The Gryphons would continue to test Marauder goal keep, Angelo Cavalluzzo (Hamilton, ON) but could not find the back of the net.
The Marauders secured their victory at minute 59, when Garret McConville (Ottawa) headed in a corner kick to put McMaster up 2-1.
Source: Guelph Sports Info
October 14 – Queen’s @ Laurentian
The Queen's Gaels mens soccer team won 4-1 against Laurentian Voyageurs after a slow start at their rainy away game on Sunday, October 14. The Gaels went into halftime tied 1-1 but put three more into the net by the end of the game.
Stephen Fattore got the first goal in the 19th minute for the Voyageurs, followed by a goal for the Gaels in the 40th by striker Lucas Lobo. With a tie at half-time, the second half started with high intensity as it could be either team's game. Lucas Lobo scored again in the 70th minute, followed by Nick Pateras in the 78th and midfielder Chris Michael in the 83rd.
The final 4-1 score for the Gaels puts them in a 10-1-2 in the OUA East division
Source: Queen’s Sports Info
RMC @ Nipissing
The Nipissing Lakers soccer squad split their pair of final home games as they avenged a 2-0 loss to Queen’s by defeating RMC 3-1 Sunday.
Sunday, the unpredictable fall northern weather hit North Bay as heavy rain and cool winds made conditions difficult on the pitch. The Lakers seemed unfazed though and played a strong contest dominating play and possession for a vast majority of the contest.
Fourth year midfielder Tylor Doell got the offence rolling as he headed home a well placed cross by teammate Cale England. Ten minutes later second year forward Ryan Mantle capitalized on a defensive miscue between an RMC defender and the keeper in which Mantle was able to intercept a lazy pass and found the ball after the collision between all three players and coolly placed it in the back of the net.
The Lakers continued to fire all kinds of shots but in the end could not beat RMC Cater Grant. The score remain 2-0 at half.
The second half was much like the first as the Lakers put tones of pressure on RMC however it would be the visitors who would get within one goal as Yoon Su An scored in the 68th minute.
Doell would then put the game out of reach as he headed home his second goal of the contest off of a free kick. The Lakers now improve to 4-4-4 on the season and have secured a playoff berth.
Source: Nipissing Athletics
Ryerson @ Toronto
The Varsity Blues men’s soccer team overcame a 2-0 halftime deficit to tie the Ryerson Rams 2-2 on Sunday, October 14 at Varsity Centre.
With the draw, Toronto (5-5-1) remains in fourth place while Ryerson (6-1-5) remain in third in the OUA eastern standings.
The Blues defence was tested heavily by the Rams in the first half of the match, as repeated drives by Ryerson eventually led to two goals.
Milos Scepanovich (Belgrade, Serbia) scored in the 18th minute off a corner kick and Nikola Milosevic added the Rams second in the 21st minute of the match.
The Varsity Blues went into the second half looking improve on their offensive play in the first. Continued drives by U of T eventually paid off, with goals by Eziquiel Lubocki (Winnipeg) and Adrian Dannel (Maloney Gardens, Trinidad & Tobago) in the 57th and 67th minutes, respectively.
The Rams continued to pressure the Blues, but strong goaltending from Toronto keeper Rab Bruce-Lockhart (Victoria, B.C.) helped Toronto to the draw.
The Blues next game is on Wednesday, October 17 at Trent University in Peterborough, Ont.
Source: Toronto Sports Info
UOIT @ McMaster
In McMaster's last home game of the season, the Marauders took down the UOIT Ridgebacks in men's soccer action on Sunday afternoon at Ron Joyce Stadium.
Despite the Marauders in UOIT's end for the majority they had trouble capitalizing. It took until the 39th minute of the game to score their first goal. From a short pass off a corner kick, second-year Ryan Garnett (Kitchener, Ont) would receive the ball at the top of the 18-yard box and would make no mistake putting it in the back of the net for the 1-0 lead.
In the second half McMaster would strike again. This time the goal came from defender Dominik Blachut (Mississauga, Ont.) for the first of his career as a Marauder.
Near the 70th minute, tensions would erupt between both teams' coaches and both would be given yellow cards from the referee. Minutes after the arguments, Ridgeback Jordan Harvey (Port Perry, Ont.) would get his second card of the game.
The Ridgebacks would play down a player, and despite some major pressure put on UOIT goalkeeper Michael Heinrich (North Vancouver, BC), the Marauders were unable to score another goal before the ref blew the final whistle.
McMaster's record now stands at 11-1-1 with the 2-0 win on Sunday, and they will hope to maintain their second place standings or move into first in the OUA West with just three games left.
The Marauders look to hand the No. 1 York Lions their first loss of the season on Wednesday as they travel to Toronto to play a road game at 3:15pm.
Source: McMaster Sports Info
Windsor @ Laurier
The Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks men's soccer team took to Alumni Field on Sunday afternoon for the second time of the weekend in hopes of coming out with a win as they hosted the Windsor Lancers. Though the Hawks began the season strong they have had only a single win in their last seven games and they would once again be denied and have to settle for a 1-1 draw with the Lancers.
The Hawks faced a tough Windsor offence that was able to get eight shots in the first half. The Hawks would go into half time down a goal after Windsor native Cristian Mayorga scored in the 29th minute.
Laurier fought throughout the second half but it wasn't until late in the final 45 minutes that they would break through. Sandro Stojakovic of Waterloo, Ont., was able to even out the score late in the game to secure a draw for the Hawks.
The weekend, which also included a loss to Western, proved to be a disappointing one for the Hawks who slid from 3rd place in the OUA West to 5th. However, with the UOIT Ridgebacks wrapping up their season with just 11 points, it helped the Hawks clinch a playoff spot for the first time in two years.
Laurier will look to return to the win column next Saturday when they host the Guelph Gryphons. The game is set to begin at 3:15 p.m.
Source: Laurier Sports Info
Brock @ York
Fifth-year striker Adrian Pena scored a pair of goals to lead the York University Lions men's soccer team to a narrow 3-2 victory over the Brock Badgers on Sunday afternoon (Oct. 14) at York Stadium.
Pena (Woodbridge, Ont.), is now tied for the OUA scoring lead with 14 goals in 13 games.
With the win, the No. 1 nationally-ranked Lions remain undefeated on the season and improve to 12-0-1. They are still in first place in the OUA West standings with a three-point cushion over the McMaster Marauders.
Midfielder Carlos Nogueira (Brampton, Ont.) had the Lions' first scoring chance of the match, finding the ball in front of the net in the 14th minute, but his kick went just high. Pena had a similar chance, launching the ball just high with his head.
The Badgers eventually drew first blood, scoring in the 20th minute off the foot of Marcus Bernard (Thornhill, Ont.), who kicked in the rebound off a shot from Osayemwenre Agbonwaneten (Brampton, Ont.), whose run through the York defence set up the opportunity.
Their lead didn't last long, however, as Pena scored the tying goal two minutes later, receiving a corner from Mark-Anthony Kaye (Toronto) and beating Brock goaltender Jake Sweetzer (Mississauga, Ont.) high. The rest of the half saw mostly midfield action as each team struggled to earn shots, and the teams played out the half to a 1-1 tie.
The Lions opened the second half with a defensive lapse that saw Badger Bobby Turnbull (Brantford, Ont.) fire a shot off of the crossbar. York goaltender Sotiri Varlokostas (Toronto) was forced to track the ball down in order to slow down the play.
The game was tense at times, as the York defence appeared to be having an off day and the offence struggled to form and meaningful attacks against a team with just one win this season.
The Lions finally gained opportunities as the second half got underway. In the 50th minute Nogueira fired a close shot that was stopped by Sweetzer, and a header by Kaye just missed the net wide on the left side.
The Lions got their second goal of the game when Pena buried a 68th-minute penalty kick in the back left corner of the net after a Brock player was called for a hand ball in the box, giving the Lions their first lead of the game. The Lions' nearly scored again shortly after the goal, as Pena set up Kaye in front of the net, but Kaye's low shot was stopped by Sweetzer.
The Lions added another goal in the 73rd minute when Charlie Trafford (Calgary) stepped around two defenders to fire a hard shot past Sweetzer into the back of the net. Kaye was credited with the assist on the play.
Kaye nearly scored in the closing minutes of the game, receiving a beautiful backwards pass from Pena and firing it just outside the right post.
The Badgers made a game of it, as Sam Orlando (Woodbridge, Ont.) scored an 87th-minute goal, deking into the box and beating Varlokostas low to bring the Badgers within one. Orlando fired a free kick at the net in the tense final minute, but Varlokostas caught it easily to make the save.
As it was the Lions' final regular season weekend home game, the team's graduating players, Sven Arapovic (Etobicoke, Ont.), Martino Belligero (Toronto), team captain Branko Majstorovic (Mississauga, Ont.), Nogueira, Ilya Orlov (Woodbridge, Ont.), Pena and Ross Taylor (Maple Ridge, B.C.) were all honoured in a ceremony before the start of the game.
The Lions will wrap up the home portion of the regular season on Wednesday afternoon against the Marauders, in a match that pits the division's top two teams. The Lions won the first meeting in Hamilton, Ont., by a score of 3-1. Kick-off is set for 1pm at York Stadium.
Source: York Sports Info
Western @ Waterloo
The Western Mustangs traveled to Waterloo and downed the host Warriors 4-2 on Sunday.
In the first half Western was fortunate to have today’s blustery wind on their side. At 30 minutes Nick Agam sent Christian Douglas down the right side. Douglas tried to cross the ball in for the finish, but ended up with Western’s first goal.
Shortly thereafter Douglas embarked on a breakaway but the ball sailed just high in an impressive scoring attempt, but a near miss. At 42 minutes Vinny Caminiti received a yellow card, which was his third overall this season and consequently he will miss the next game.
Douglas turned things around for himself in today’s game and reclaimed his position on the starting line up. He demonstrated competitive prowess and was a predator today in the Waterloo half.
At 45 minutes Ivan Skoko made a big save after a deflection on a Warriors' corner kick. At halftime the score was 1-0 for Western.
The second half began with an uprising in the wind and Waterloo, now working with the wind, took full advantage. Four minutes into the second half Waterloo’s Victor Jiminez was able to score from almost 36 metres away from the net. Western keeper Skoko tried to make the save, however, the wind changed the ball’s direction. Western and Waterloo tied at 1-1.
At 12 minutes Dominic Bell received a yellow card. At 18 minutes Alex Lewis was sent by Jon Sargeant down the wide left. Lewis delivered a perfect cross and Pat Mroczek answered with a lethal header. Western led 2-1.
At 27 minutes Waterloo took a corner and Adam Craig was able to get his head on it for the Warriors’ second goal of the game. Shortly after, Alex Lewis received a yellow card.
At 38 minutes, Caminiti helped a lost ball to find its way back in Waterloo's net to score Western’s third goal of the game. At 39 minutes Oliver Richardson crossed a ball to Dominic Bell. Dominic savored the drama of the moment and headed the ball for Western’s fourth goal of the game, simultaneously giving the fans something to talk about on the long drive back to London.
Source: Western Sports Info
