October 4, 2010
M-SOCCER ROUNDUP: Western yet to lose after two weekend wins
York Lions @ McMaster Marauders
The York University Lions soccer teams were in Hamilton this Sunday (Oct. 3) for a double-header against the McMaster Marauders. The men’s team was victorious in a 3-0 rout of the defending OUA champions, while the women’s team suffered a 2-0 loss.
In the men’s match, the Lions scored all three of their goals in the first half and played shutdown defence for the remainder of the match. Goalkeeper Sotiri Varlokostas (Toronto) was unbeatable, stopping all five shots against for his sixth shutout of the season.
Rookie forward Alon Badat (Thornhill, Ont.) and third-year striker Adrian Pena (Woodbridge, Ont.) continued their impressive seasons, scoring one and two goals, respectively. Their combined three goals were all the Lions needed as they cruised to the win.
Pena and Badat sit second and third in OUA league scoring with nine and six goals, respectively. Pena trails scoring leader Niko Mavrikos (Victoria, B.C.) of the Western Mustangs by a single goal.
With the win, the Lions improve to 7-2-1 on the season and sit second in the OUA West with 22 points, nine points behind the leading Mustangs, who are undefeated this season. The Lions continue to lead the OUA in scoring with 29 goals.
Source: Lions Athletics
Brock Badgers @ Guelph Gryphons
The Guelph Gryphons matched up against the Brock Badgers on Oct 3rd at the Alumni Stadium in Guelph. The game finished in a tie 1-1, after Robbie Murphy (Ottawa, ON) scored Guelph’s first goal of the season – hopefully breaking the losing streak the team has suffered through. Brock later tied up the score with a goal from Anthony Frucci (Courtice, ON).
This brings the Gryphon’s standings to 0-7-2 and the Badgers to 2-7-1.
The Gryphons began the game with a new rush of energy, reminiscent of their more-successful season last year. Murphy and Jurgen Koelher (Guelph, ON) drilled the Badger’s end right from the start. Murphy almost got a goal only five minutes into the game but it struck the top post. Minutes later a scrimmage outside of the Badger net ensued and Gryphon offence had three consecutive shots on goal, but they were painfully not successful. It was enough to stir up some excitement in the stands.
Murphy once again hit the post of the net 20 minutes into the game but this time it reflected back at him and he rebounded a much-anticipated first goal of the season for the Gryphons. With Gryphon spirits high and a glimpse at the first possible win of the season, Brock was ready to fight back. With only minutes left in the first half Frucci snuck his way into the Guelph hot-zone and fired one into the net, tying up the match.
The second half was a struggle from both teams to try and take the lead. Much of the game was a ping-pong effect with plays going back and forth between both sides. Gryphon midfielder Brenden Springer (Burlington, ON) played a crucial role in carrying the transitions and propelled a lot of the attacks into Brock’s end. Meanwhile, Badger midfielder Adrian Camelli (Niagara Falls, ON) consistently harassed Gryphon defence hoping for a goal.
During the last five minutes of the game, tensions rose and Brock’s offence seemed to be gaining strength over Guelph. They had three official shots on net in only a matter of a few minutes. In the very last seconds of the game Murphy broke away from the crowd and had a chance to rake in the first win of the season, but the talented Badger goal-keep Ryan Toale (Brampton, ON) was able to shut it down. The match ended with high hopes for future Gryphon games, now that the dry streak for goals has ended.
Source: Gryphons Athletics
UOIT Ridgebacks @ Western Mustangs
Strong defence and lucky bounces aided the Western Mustangs on Friday as they remained perfect with a 2-0 win over the University of Ontario Institute of Technology Ridgebacks at TD Waterhouse Stadium.
With the victory, the No. 2 nationally ranked Mustangs improve to 9-0-1 on the season.
Mike Sawchuk and Jagger Hassan scored the Western goals, while Andrew Murdoch earned his eighth shutout of the season in 10 starts making three saves and forcing four wide shots.
Western dominated the early possession and was the better team throughout the contest, but timely goalkeeping, a lucky bounce and solid defence aided them to victory.
Ian Meaghar missed a great opportunity in the opening 10 minutes when his volley off tic-tac-toe passing failed to find the net. But after some favourable bounces, the Mustangs got into an attacking position seconds later, keeping the pressure on UOIT's defence to create the game's first goal.
It came with Meaghar loosely marked in the box. Jagger Hassan's through-ball from the wing bounced twice in the six-yard box without even reaching Meaghar, eventually deflecting off Ridgebacks defender Nikolas Pandikiu and then into the net for a 1-0 Western lead.
Western then began to take some risks, and it nearly resulted in a game-tying counterattack from UOIT.
Later in the half, speedy Ridgebacks stricker Justin Gordon got in on a partial breakaway but Murdoch slid out to take the shot away to keep Western up 1-0.
Western midfielder Eric Amato nearly gave Western a 2-0 lead late in the half with a direct free kick form 40-yards out but Andrew Thompson made a great save on a rising bullet, punching the ball over the crossbar.
The Mustangs had seven first-half corners and had their foot on the gas pedal but could not covert more than once.
In the second half, the Mustangs extended the lead, taking advantage of a poor decision from two UOIT defenders who chose to try to run the ball out instead of simply booting it up field.
Sawchuk eventually stole the ball from the feet of UOIT defender Santiago Rioja, dribbling the ball into the 18-yard box and curving it low into the bottom left corner to extend the lead to 2-0 for Western.
With about 20 minutes remaining, Western fullback Paul D'Amario made a great tackle to take away another partial breakaway from UOIT striker Gordon just as he was about to plant for a shot at the top of the 18-yard box. Western withstood that and several rushes, and Murdoch provided timely goalkeeping to hold on for the 2-0 victory.
Amato, who had another opportunity to score and stretch the lead to 3-0 with a direct free-kick from 35 yards out, was like a magician with the ball throughout the match and drew several gasps from the crowd.
Gordon had one last chance to score after deking past two Mustangs defenders. But he missed the net with Murdoch aggressively cutting down the angle, forcing the UOIT striker to miss the net low.
With the victory, the No. 2 nationally ranked Mustangs improve to 9-0-1 on the season.
Mike Sawchuk and Jagger Hassan scored the Western goals, while Andrew Murdoch earned his eighth shutout of the season in 10 starts making three saves and forcing four wide shots.
Western dominated the early possession and was the better team throughout the contest, but timely goalkeeping, a lucky bounce and solid defence aided them to victory.
Ian Meaghar missed a great opportunity in the opening 10 minutes when his volley off tic-tac-toe passing failed to find the net. But after some favourable bounces, the Mustangs got into an attacking position seconds later, keeping the pressure on UOIT's defence to create the game's first goal.
It came with Meaghar loosely marked in the box. Jagger Hassan's through-ball from the wing bounced twice in the six-yard box without even reaching Meaghar, eventually deflecting off Ridgebacks defender Nikolas Pandikiu and then into the net for a 1-0 Western lead.
Western then began to take some risks, and it nearly resulted in a game-tying counterattack from UOIT.
Later in the half, speedy Ridgebacks stricker Justin Gordon got in on a partial breakaway but Murdoch slid out to take the shot away to keep Western up 1-0.
Western midfielder Eric Amato nearly gave Western a 2-0 lead late in the half with a direct free kick form 40-yards out but Andrew Thompson made a great save on a rising bullet, punching the ball over the crossbar.
The Mustangs had seven first-half corners and had their foot on the gas pedal but could not covert more than once.
In the second half, the Mustangs extended the lead, taking advantage of a poor decision from two UOIT defenders who chose to try to run the ball out instead of simply booting it up field.
Sawchuk eventually stole the ball from the feet of UOIT defender Santiago Rioja, dribbling the ball into the 18-yard box and curving it low into the bottom left corner to extend the lead to 2-0 for Western.
With about 20 minutes remaining, Western fullback Paul D'Amario made a great tackle to take away another partial breakaway from UOIT striker Gordon just as he was about to plant for a shot at the top of the 18-yard box. Western withstood that and several rushes, and Murdoch provided timely goalkeeping to hold on for the 2-0 victory.
Amato, who had another opportunity to score and stretch the lead to 3-0 with a direct free-kick from 35 yards out, was like a magician with the ball throughout the match and drew several gasps from the crowd.
Gordon had one last chance to score after deking past two Mustangs defenders. But he missed the net with Murdoch aggressively cutting down the angle, forcing the UOIT striker to miss the net low.
Source: Mustangs Athletics
Ryerson Rams @ Carleton Ravens
The Ryerson men's soccer team yielded a familiar result against Carleton, tying 0-0 at Ravens Field on Saturday afternoon.
The tie, Ryerson's fourth in a row, leaves the Rams [2-0-5] in fourth place in the OUA East, three points back of Toronto, who have 14. The CIS sixth-ranked Ravens [6-0-1] remain undefeated on the season and sit atop the conference. Ryerson becomes the first team to take a point from Carleton in seven games this season.
Ryerson was unable to score today, but outshot Carleton 8-3. Ravens keeper Karl Wasslen extended his unbeaten streak to seven games, and has yet to surrender a goal on the campaign. Aaryon Gaeeni recorded his third shutout of the season for Ryerson.
Rams midfielder Janarthan Sadacharalingam was the only player carded on Saturday, picking up a yellow.
Source: Rams Athletics
Queen’s Gaels @ RMC Paladins
Michael Arnold of London, Ont. provided all the offence as the Queen's Gaels men's soccer team earned a 2-0 victory over the RMC Paladins at RMC on Saturday.
Arnold scored in the 63rd and 80th minute of the game. Maxfield Materne of Toronto recorded the shutout for Queen's.
Arnold has tallied six goals this season placing him third in OUA scoring and tied his career high in goals per season. He had six in both the 2008-09 and 2009-10 seasons.
The Gaels are on a 15 game winning streak against RMC.
The win brings Queen's regular season record to 5-3-1 and are in second place in the OUA East Division.
Arnold scored in the 63rd and 80th minute of the game. Maxfield Materne of Toronto recorded the shutout for Queen's.
Arnold has tallied six goals this season placing him third in OUA scoring and tied his career high in goals per season. He had six in both the 2008-09 and 2009-10 seasons.
The Gaels are on a 15 game winning streak against RMC.
The win brings Queen's regular season record to 5-3-1 and are in second place in the OUA East Division.
Source: Gaels Athletics
MEN’S SOCCER SCHEDULE AND RESULTS
October 1
UOIT, 0 @ Western, 2
October 2
Trent, 2 @ Nipissing, 1
Queen’s, 2 @ RMC, 0
Ryerson, 0 @ Carleton, 0
York, 1 @ Guelph, 0
McMaster, 2 @ Brock, 0
Waterloo, 0 @ Windsor, 0
October 3
Trent, 1 @ Laurentian, 1
Laurier, 1 @ Windsor, 2
Toronto, 0 @ Carleton, 0
Waterloo, 0 @ Western, 1
Brock, 1 @ Guelph, 1
York, 3 @ McMaster, 0
October 6
4:15pm – RMC @ Queen’s
8:45pm – Laurier @ Western
October 7
6:00pm – Guelph @ UOIT
October 8
2:15pm – Laurentian @ Toronto
2:15pm – Nipissing @ Ryerson
6:00pm – York @ UOIT
October 9
2:15pm - Nipissing @ Toronto
2:15pm – Laurentian @ Ryerson
3:15pm – Trent @ Carleton
3:15pm – Windsor @ Laurier
3:15pm – Western @ Waterloo
3:15pm – York @ Brock
3:15pm – Guelph @ McMaster
