M-SOCCER ROUNDUP: Reilly nets a hat-trick as the Marauders dominate Badgers
Wednesday, September 10
Brock 0 @ McMaster 5
After two low-scoring matches to begin their OUA campaign, the Marauder offence has come alive.
McMaster put five goals past the Brock Badgers on Wednesday, including a hat-trick for senior forward Mark Reilly, and routed the Badgers 5-0 in driving rain at Ron Joyce Stadium. Marco Gennaccaro had a brace of his own for the Marauders, who improved to 2-0-2 on the season with the result.
There was no time wasted by the Marauders, who jumped out an an almost immediate lead when Reilly potted his first of the game in just the sixth minute. Their superior build-up play had the Badgers on the run, and there were no shortage of chances for a second goal in the early stages. Gersi Xhuti came close in the 14th minute, dummying past his defender and forcing an alert stop from the Brock keeper with a hard, rising shot just under the bar.
It was Reilly with the answer once again in the 28th, as he sliced into the box and cut the ball back to create space, before chipping a shot past the onrushing goalkeeper.
Nate Morris very nearly had a third for the Marauders in the 33rd minute, when he spotted the goalkeeper well off his line and sent a low shot toward the far post that narrowly missed and skidded wide.
Before the halftime whistle blew, it was the Badgers who nearly struck against the run of play, as a tight flick in the box found the crossbar but bounced harmlessly over the net.
Regular service resumed as the second half got underway, and McMaster had the third goal that they'd been hinting at when Gennaccaro latched onto an excellent through ball along the left, and calmly fired a shot past the keeper at the near post in the 48th minute.
With the result a near certainty, the two teams appeared to settle in, eager to kill the clock and escape the miserable conditions at Ron Joyce Stadium. But when a penalty shout was answered in the 88th minute, Reilly stepped up and made amends for his miss on the weekend by coolly slotting the spot kick low and past the keeper for 4-0 and a hat-trick. Just a minute later, Gennaccaro had his brace, as he wriggled free of coverage in the area and put home another clinical finish.
Not content with two, Gennaccaro very nearly completed his own hat-trick in stoppage time, but his close-range effort thundered cruelly off the crossbar.
With Wednesday's demolition job done, the Marauders now look forward to the weekend, as they travel to Waterloo for a match with the Warriors on Sunday.
Source: McMaster Marauders
Laurentian 1 @ Nipissing 1
Better late than never is a good way to describe Wednesday night's home opener for the Nipissing Lakers men's soccer team as they faced the Laurentian Voyageurs.
The Lakers, who trailed 1-0 for pretty much the entire second half, scored on the final play of the game off a free-kick just above the 18-yard box to earn a 1-1 tie against their northern rivals.
Cale England's shot deflected off Brandon TeBrake and into the back of the net to give the Lakers their first goal of the game which earned them a single point.
After a scoreless first half, the Voyageurs got off to a quick start in the second half, picking up the pace and finding the back of the net thanks to a header off a corner kick in the 47th minute.
After the goal the play picked up considerably with both teams trying to get that next goal – the Lakes to tie things up and the Voyageurs trying to put the game out of reach.
Both teams had chances to score, but it wasn't until late that the Lakers were rewarded for their strong final quarter of the game.
Despite only scoring once, the Lakers did generate 11 shots and a handful of quality chances.
Grainger Munro made his fifth straight start, allowing one goal on 11 shots.
The Lakers, now with a 1-2-2 record, good for five points, will prepare to face the Carleton Ravens Saturday afternoon at 2:15 p.m.
The Ravens sit three points and two spots ahead of the Lakers with a 2-1-2 record and will enter the game having won their previous game, while the Lakers are 1-1-1 in their past three contests.
Source: Nipissing Lakers
