September 6, 2010

MEN'S SOCCER WEEKEND ROUNDUP

HAMILTON, Ont. - Opening weekend of men’s soccer was historic with the University of Ontario Institute of Technology Ridgebakcs winning their inaugural OUA regular season game 4-2 over the Brock Badgers.

UOIT Ridgebacks @ Brock Badgers

It was an afternoon to remember for the University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT) as the men’s soccer team defeated Brock 4-2 in the Ridgebacks inaugural OUA regular season game.
 
Striker Luke St. John (Clermont, Barbados) got UOIT on the board scoring the first goal in Ridgebacks history, finding the back of the net off a scramble in the final minute of the first half.
 
With the Ridgebacks carrying a 2-0 lead (following a goal from Tochukwu Obikili) in the late stages in the game, the fold gates would open up as the teams combined for four goals in the final ten minutes.
 
Brock’s Kosta Krajisnik scored the Badgers first goal burying a free kick (84’), but UOIT captain Paul Craven (Oshawa, Ont.) would strike back with a strike of his own just two minutes later. Krajisnik narrowed the gap once again as he netted his second goal of the game during the 86th minute, scoring off a Badgers cross.
 
Following another wave of pressure from Brock in the final minutes of regulation, UOIT was able to capitalize off of the Badgers offensive attack and push the ball up field. Freshman Justin Gordon (Pickering, Ont.), who had troubled the Badgers defence all game, sealed the victory scoring the Ridgebacks fourth goal.
 
Oliver Lietz (Mississauga, Ont.) was in net for UOIT making seven stops in the victory.
 
Even though the Ridgebacks picked up the win, it was not all good news for UOIT as freshmen striker Daniel Matthews (Pickering, Ont.) broke his collarbone in the eighth minute and is expected to miss the remainder of the regular season.
 
 
 
Queen’s Gaels @ Carleton Ravens

The Carleton University Ravens men’s soccer team opened its 2010-11 campaign with a 2-0 win over the Queen’s University Gaels Saturday afternoon at Ravens’ Field.

The first half saw both teams fighting hard from the whistle, keeping the play tight on both ends.

Marc-Anthony Viscosi (Ottawa) tried to make something happen for Carleton as he laid the ball over to Justin Campos (Summerside, P.E.I.), who couldn’t quite make the chip over the keeper’s head.

The last ten minutes of the first saw Carleton putting more pressure in the Queen’s end of the field. Sam McHugh (Russell, Ont.) added to the pressure with a high shot in the top hand corner, which was punched away by Queen’s goalie Max Materne (Toronto). Despite the strong play, there weren’t many scoring opportunities for the Ravens in the first.

The second half saw the Ravens trying to unlock the Queen’s back four and the Gaels trying to bank on their set plays.

With high winds coming over Ravens’ Field, both teams had difficulty switching the field. Success came, however, when Joey Kewin (London, Ont.) capitalized on a throw in and sent the ball over the line and into the net, giving the Ravens a 1-0 lead with 10 minutes to go.

Not long after, the Gaels’ defence switched off, leaving Devan Bruce (Kingston, Ont.) a clean shot in the 18-yard box, to put the Ravens up 2-0. This would mark Bruce’s first goal of the regular season as a Raven.

The Ravens finished the game strong and keeper Karl Wasslen (Ottawa) earned the shutout, marking a good start to the 2010-11 season.
 
 
 
Windsor Lancers @ Guelph Gryphons
Windsor Lancers @ McMaster Marauders
 
The Lancer Men's Soccer program kept their opponents off the scoreboard in their first two games of the 2010 season.

Windsor opened up the season with an impressive 1-0 win over the host Guelph Gryphons on Saturday afternoon in Guelph.
 
A well balanced first half saw both teams present a number of scoring opportunities that they were unable to capitalize on.
 
The Lancers took the lead with the game’s lone goal in the 44th minute of the game when Ryan Wise took control of the ball and raced towards the Gryphon net. Guelph’s Ben Ragen tried to fend off Wise, but he got past the defender, and ripped the ball into the Gryphons net.
 
In an intense second half, Guelph made several attempts to tie the game, but Lancer keeper Dan Mendonca made some great saves to keep the Lancers in the lead.
 
Overall, Mendonca made seven saves in the win for his first regular season shutout of the year.

On Sunday, the Lancers finished in a scoreless 0-0 draw against the host McMaster Marauders in Hamilton. 

Windsor had ten shots on net, but were unable to capitalize on any opportunities. McMaster was held scoreless on seven shots, as Mendonca earned his second straight shutout in as many games. 
 
 
 
 
Western Mustangs @ McMaster Marauders
Western Mustangs @ Guelph Gryphons

Eric Amato scored both game-winning goals and Andrew Murdoch earned a pair of clean-sheet victories as Western's men's soccer team won a pair of games by 1-0 scores in the opening weekend of OUA soccer action.

The Mustangs edged host McMaster on Saturday (Sept. 4) with a 1-0 victory on Amato's game-winning goal, while Murdoch earned the shutout with three saves.

The next day, Western won another on the road, 1-0 over Guelph, with Amato again providing the scoring heroics in the second half and Murdoch recording his second straight shutout victory.


 
 
Ryerson Ram @ Laurentian Voyageurs
Ryerson Rams @ Nipissing Lakers
 
The Ryerson Rams men's soccer team is returning from its opening weekend two-game road trip with a victory and a tie.

After playing to a scoreless draw on Saturday at Laurentian, the Rams picked up their first win of the season with a 1-0 victory at Nipissing on Sunday. First-year midfielder Sebastian Novais scored his first OUA career goal and the game winner in the 81st minute, converting a cross from 2009 OUA East MVP Alex Braletic. First-year keeper Christian Maraldo made two saves for his first career OUA victory and shutout. Matt Likuski was busy in the Nipissing goal, making 12 saves on the afternoon.

In Saturday's 0-0 tie at Laurentian, goalkeeper Aaryon Gaeeni made one save for his first career OUA clean sheet. Laurentian's David Szczepaniak made four saves for the shutout.
 
Source: Rams Athletics

UOIT Ridgebacks @ York Lions
 
 
The York University Lions men’s soccer team began the 2010 season with a bang in their home opener on Sunday (Sept. 5) with a 7-0 victory over the UOIT Ridgebacks at York Stadium.

Third-year striker Adrian Pena (Woodbridge, Ont.), who finished second in team scoring last season with six goals, gave the Lions all the offence they would need with a goal five minutes into the game and another in the 22nd minute.

Also recording a two-goal game was Moreno Alberti (Winnipeg, Man.), a fourth-year forward and former CIS and OUA rookie of the year award recipient.

Rounding out the scoring with one goal each were Martino Belligero (Toronto), Francesco Catalano (Woodbridge, Ont.) and rookie Alon Badat (Thornhill, Ont.).

The Lions (1-0) picked up right where they left off last season and showed no signs of rust. They were the top offensive team in the OUA West in 2009 with 30 goals in 14 games, and the seven scored on Sunday was the most of any team in the OUA on the opening weekend of play.

Goalkeeper Sotiri Varlokostas (Toronto) had an easy afternoon for the win, saving all three shots he faced.

The Lions controlled the ball for most of the game and gave the Ridgebacks few opportunities to get on the scoreboard. They peppered the UOIT net continuously, recording 23 shots in the game while allowing the Ridgebacks (1-1) just five. UOIT goalie Oliver Lietz made six saves in the contest.
 
 
 
 
OUA M-SOCCER SCHEDULE AND RESULTS

Sat. Sept. 4
UOIT, 4 @ Brock, 2
Toronto, 1 @ Nipissing, 1
Ryerson, 0 @ Laurentian, 0
Windsor, 1 @ Guelph, 0
Western, 1 @ McMcaster, 0
Queen’s, 0 @ Carleton, 2

Sun. Sept. 5
Ryerson, 1 @ Nipissing, 0
Toronto, 2 @ Laurentian, 0
Trent, 1 @ Queen’s, 4
Western, 1 @ Guelph, 0
Windsor, 0 @ McMaster, 0
UOIT, 0 @ York 7
 
Tues. Sept. 7
5:15 p.m. – Nipissing @ Laurentian

Wed. Sept. 8
8:00 p.m. – UOIT @ McMcaster
8:15 p.m. – RMC @ Carleton
8:30 p.m. – York @ Western