November 14, 2005
U OF T FALLS JUST SHORT IN CIS FINAL
CHARLOTTETOWN – University of British Columbia striker Niko Marcina converted a controversial penalty in the 84th-minute to lift the Thunderbirds to a 2-1 win over the University of Toronto Varsity Blues in the 2005 CIS men’s soccer championship final.
The penalty was awarded when first-year U of T defender Kim Saka got caught with his hands near his head defending a UBC cross. The official claimed that Saka reached out to stop the ball, even though it seemed that he was simply turning to defend the attack and protect his body.
Saka was also the Varsity Blues goal scorer, getting a leg on a Josh Gordon cross from six yards out in the 57th-minute. The ball sailed across the box and right to a sprinting Saka, who simply redirected the ball into a wide-open UBC goal.
After a shaky opening 45 minutes that saw the Thunderbirds carry much of the play, U of T settled down in the second stanza and were rewarded with Saka’s score after a flurry of opportunities.
U of T started the contest without the services of first-team OUA all-stars Evan Milward and Mike Bialy. Milward, a first-year striker, did not dress for the final, while Bialy, a 2004 CIS all-Canadian, did enter the match with a noticeable limp with eight minutes remaining.
Despite the loss, first-year head coach Carmine Isacco was pleased with the Varsity Blues’ post-season run. “With each playoff victory we realized that we were indeed a national caliber team. We believe in our system and now know how to win.”
On the road to the CIS final, U of T upset the nation’s number one ranked and undefeated Western Mustangs in the OUA semi-finals; the AUS champion and undefeated Saint Mary’s Huskies in the national quarterfinals; and the Canada West champion Trinity Western Spartans in Saturday’s semi-final.
The CIS silver medal was the third trip to the national podium for the Varsity Blues men’s soccer team in nine visits to the event. Along with their championship season in 1988, they also claimed silver in 1986.
The Varsity Blues won a pair of nail-biters to reach Sunday’s final. In Friday’s quarterfinals a goal in the 14th-minute by fifth-year striker Sean Myers and a flawless defensive performance lifted U of T past Saint Mary’s 1-0. On Saturday, the Varsity Blues need penalty kicks to edge Trinity Western University 4-3, with U of T goalkeeper Luciano Lombardi scoring on a goalmouth scramble as time expired to force the extra time.
CIS CHAMPIONSHIP SCORING SUMMARY
UofT 0-1:1
UBC 1-1:2
First Half:
35th minute – Michael Elliot (UBC)
Second Half:
57th minute – Kim Saka (UofT)
84th minute - Niko Marcina (UBC)
Goalkeepers:
UBC: Srdjan Djekanovic (W, 90 min)
UofT: Luciano Lombardi (L, 90 min)
VARSITY BLUES – CIS TOURNAMENT ALL-STARS
Dustin Chung
Sean Myers
Joe Rini
Eric Tse
VARSITY BLUES CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS
Friday, November 11
Quarterfinal: U of T 1, Saint Mary's 0
Saturday, November 12
Semi-final: U of T 4, Trinity Western 3 (5-4 on penalty kicks)
Sunday, November 13
CIS Championship Final: UBC 2, U of T 1
(Source: Adrian Bradbury, Toronto Sports Information)
The penalty was awarded when first-year U of T defender Kim Saka got caught with his hands near his head defending a UBC cross. The official claimed that Saka reached out to stop the ball, even though it seemed that he was simply turning to defend the attack and protect his body.
Saka was also the Varsity Blues goal scorer, getting a leg on a Josh Gordon cross from six yards out in the 57th-minute. The ball sailed across the box and right to a sprinting Saka, who simply redirected the ball into a wide-open UBC goal.
After a shaky opening 45 minutes that saw the Thunderbirds carry much of the play, U of T settled down in the second stanza and were rewarded with Saka’s score after a flurry of opportunities.
U of T started the contest without the services of first-team OUA all-stars Evan Milward and Mike Bialy. Milward, a first-year striker, did not dress for the final, while Bialy, a 2004 CIS all-Canadian, did enter the match with a noticeable limp with eight minutes remaining.
Despite the loss, first-year head coach Carmine Isacco was pleased with the Varsity Blues’ post-season run. “With each playoff victory we realized that we were indeed a national caliber team. We believe in our system and now know how to win.”
On the road to the CIS final, U of T upset the nation’s number one ranked and undefeated Western Mustangs in the OUA semi-finals; the AUS champion and undefeated Saint Mary’s Huskies in the national quarterfinals; and the Canada West champion Trinity Western Spartans in Saturday’s semi-final.
The CIS silver medal was the third trip to the national podium for the Varsity Blues men’s soccer team in nine visits to the event. Along with their championship season in 1988, they also claimed silver in 1986.
The Varsity Blues won a pair of nail-biters to reach Sunday’s final. In Friday’s quarterfinals a goal in the 14th-minute by fifth-year striker Sean Myers and a flawless defensive performance lifted U of T past Saint Mary’s 1-0. On Saturday, the Varsity Blues need penalty kicks to edge Trinity Western University 4-3, with U of T goalkeeper Luciano Lombardi scoring on a goalmouth scramble as time expired to force the extra time.
CIS CHAMPIONSHIP SCORING SUMMARY
UofT 0-1:1
UBC 1-1:2
First Half:
35th minute – Michael Elliot (UBC)
Second Half:
57th minute – Kim Saka (UofT)
84th minute - Niko Marcina (UBC)
Goalkeepers:
UBC: Srdjan Djekanovic (W, 90 min)
UofT: Luciano Lombardi (L, 90 min)
VARSITY BLUES – CIS TOURNAMENT ALL-STARS
Dustin Chung
Sean Myers
Joe Rini
Eric Tse
VARSITY BLUES CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS
Friday, November 11
Quarterfinal: U of T 1, Saint Mary's 0
Saturday, November 12
Semi-final: U of T 4, Trinity Western 3 (5-4 on penalty kicks)
Sunday, November 13
CIS Championship Final: UBC 2, U of T 1
(Source: Adrian Bradbury, Toronto Sports Information)
