M-SOCCER ROUNDUP: Rams regular season streak halted at 35 games by rival Varsity Blues
Saturday, September 27
Toronto 3 @ Ryerson 0
TORONTO, Ont. – The Ryerson Rams men's soccer team's regular season undefeated streak came to an end on Saturday afternoon with a 3-0 loss at the hands of the Toronto Varsity Blues.
Prior to Saturday, the No. 3 ranked Rams had not lost a regular season game in 35 straight games, dating back to September 2, 2012.
"I'd rather have this moment right now than have it the first round of the playoffs…when we have no chance to teach or learn from it, no desire to come back," said associate coach Fil Prostran following the game. "Sometimes you win, sometimes you learn and we learned a great lesson today."
Toronto's Nirun Sivananthan opened the scoring in the 19th minute when he got in behind the Rams back line and slotted home his second of the season.
The Blues almost doubled their lead in the 28th minute but defender Josh Kohn (Richmond Hill, Ont.) slid across to block a sure goal.
A tackle in the box two minutes later led to a Mario Kovacevic penalty kick goal to make it 2-0 Blues in the 30th.
The Rams made some changes tactically coming out of halftime to try and pressure for the tying goal but in the 64th minute, Sivananthan beat two defenders and finished off the play for his second goal of the game.
Raheem Rose (Etobicoke, Ont.) had the Rams' best chance in the 83rd minute with a hard, tailing strike but Toronto keeper Mark Rogal punched it aside to preserve the cleansheet victory.
"Today I thought, after that second goal, that we didn't really have that will and that desire. That falls on the coaching staff in the energy I give to the team. I don't think we had that killer instinct that the game meant a lot to us, for whatever reason. The loss always goes to the coaches so we'll take it on the chin and move on and as always, win or lose, there's lots of work to do."
Ryerson continues to lead the OUA east division with their 8-1-0 record while Toronto maintains their hold on second place with a 6-2-1 record.
Source: Ryerson Rams
Nipissing 0 @ Carleton 3
OTTAWA, Ont. – Daud Dahir scored three unanswered goals for the Ravens as they shutout Nipissing 3-0 Saturday afternoon.
This was Dahir's first career hat trick for the Ravens.
With the win the Ravens improved their record to 5-1-3, which moves them into third place in the OUA standings.
"We had a good first half performance," said head coach Sandy Mackie. "We managed to find the back of the net."
The Ravens opened the scoring at the six-minute mark and made it 2-0 at the 12-minute mark. Dahir rounded out the scoring at the 30-minute mark.
Mackie praised Dahir's play and was pleased with the third-year midfielder's performance. Felix Daigle picked up the shutout for the Ravens.
"It was nice to see some goals scored and it was great work by the keeper," said Mackie. "It was a good three points and it keeps us in the race."
Carleton is back in action Sunday as they host the Laurentian Voyageurs (2-4-2), although they will need to reshuffle its lineup somewhat as Joey Martello and Tristan St. Pierre were handed yellow cards and Zef Kraja was given a red card at game's end.
"Laurentian is always tough and so it will be another challenge," said Mackie. "We're a young team so we'll just have to be ready."
Source: Carleton Ravens
McMaster 1 @ Guelph 2
GUELPH, Ont. – The Guelph Gryphons men's soccer team handed the McMaster Marauders their first loss of the season in a 2-1 final on Saturday afternoon at the Gryphon Soccer Complex. The Gryphons move to 6-1-0 and overtook the Marauders for second in the OUA, McMaster sits with a 5-1-2 record. The Gryphons remain the only team to score on McMaster this season, earlier in the season they tied 1-1.
The Gryphons established a lead right away with a goal by Jared Agyemang (Brampton, Ont.) in the sixth minute of play. Agyemang earned his eighth goal of the season and is tied for third in OUA scoring. The home team displayed excellent direct passing that enabled them to move easily around the field while keeping possession of the ball. There were tensions between the two teams right away, with a physical tone to the game but no penalties called.
In the second half, the tension escalated as the Gryphons fought to maintain their lead. They succeeded again in the 61st minute when defender Stephen Veenema (Ottawa) scored off a corner kick to earn his first goal of the season.
McMaster fought back and scored in the 77th minute but the Gryphons came away with a 2-1 victory. Guelph maintained their offensive pressure throughout the game, with a total of 12 shots on net as compared to McMaster's total of five. The defensive lineup led by Justin Springer (Burlington, Ont.) and Paul Manchisi (Oakville, Ont.) protected their zone and goalie Justin Springer (Richmond Hill, Ont.) only had to save one shot throughout the game.
Source: Guelph Gryphons
Waterloo 1 @ Western 5
LONDON, Ont. - Christian Douglas and Parker Seymour each netted two goals as the Western Mustangs climbed their way to a 5-1 victory over the Waterloo Warriors on Saturday afternoon at Mustangs Field.
"It's a good feeling to get a win," said head coach Rock Basacco on the victory. "The boys worked hard and played well and finished on our chances, and that's being the difference. Our attack is improving, so it was nice to score those goals, and now we just have to continue it against some of the teams like York and Laurier, and other teams that we will be facing."
The Mustangs season record now improves to 4-4-1, while Waterloo sits at 0-7-1.
With Saturday's performance Douglas now sits at third on the OUA leaderboard with 10 goals on the season, while Parker has five goals on his record.
The Mustangs were quick to establish the game as theirs to take, controlling possession for the majority of the game. With a free kick given to Western, Seymour took the opportunity to curve a shot into the upper right corner to open up the scoring. Five minutes later Douglas would slide a shot past Warriors keeper Adam Weller, making the score 2-0. By then end of the first 45 minutes, both Douglas and Parker had found the back of the net once again with the Mustangs up 4-0.
The Mustangs continued their momentum in the second half making numerous offensive pushes and maintaining control of the game. They would remain strong on the offensive front, which paid off when striker Jacob Peplinski added a goal in the 87th minute. Waterloo responded with a goal by Matthew Cimino in the 89th minute to make the score 5-1; however it was too late for the Warriors as the Mustangs came out victorious.
Source: Western Mustangs
Queen's 1 @ UOIT 1
OSHAWA, Ont. – For the second straight match, the UOIT men's soccer team failed to hold on to a late lead as they tied the Queen's Gaels 1-1 on Saturday afternoon.
UOIT (1-4-4) remains one spot out of a playoff position as they trail the Laurentian Voyageurs (2-4-2) by just a single point. Queen's (5-2-2) is in fourth place in the conference standings, one point behind Carleton (5-1-3).
After the teams went scoreless in the first half, Erik Petrovic (Serbia) would break the deadlock midway through the second as he scored his fourth of the campaign, firing a shot in the bottom right corner. The goal was a little bit of redemption for Petrovic as he missed penalty kick in the first half.
With UOIT in line for three points at homecoming, Queen's would spoil the party in the 82nd minute when Eric Koskins scored his second goal in two games. That was the only goal UOIT goalkeeper Travis Martin (Whitby, Ont.) would allow, as he made seven saves in his ninth start of the season. Queen's outshot UOIT 17-10, including 12-3 in the second half.
Three valuable points will be up for grabs on Sunday when the Ridgebacks travel to RMC for a 3:15 p.m. kick-off. In their previous meeting, UOIT defeated the Paladins 2-1 with a second half comeback. RMC trails UOIT by one point in the standings.
Source: UOIT Ridgebacks
York 2 @ Brock 1
ST. CATHARINES, Ont - The Brock University men's soccer team (1-5-4 OUA) suffered a tough 2-1 loss at the hands of the No. 2 ranked York Lions (9-0-1) Saturday afternoon.
The game got off to quick start with York creating their first goal scoring opportunity just 30 seconds into the game off of a solo effort from striker Jarek Whiteman.
At this point Brock realized that they would have to play their best game of the season in order to get any points. The Lions strategy was clear from the very beginning. They wanted to control the ball in the midfield, and then try and break down the Brock backline with quick one touch passing in the attacking zone. Brock's defence was up for the task. Led by centre backs Eric Bradey and Eseosa Agbonwaneten, the Brock backline played very stubborn defence in the first 20 minutes, only allowing York one shot on net during this time frame. Brock's offensive players showed stints of positive play, but struggled to sustain any type of possession early on.
The first goal of the game came in the 32nd minute when York's Matt Stinson scored off a rebound from Brock goalie Matt Zoikos, who had just denied a breakaway goal from Joey Cicchillo. The Lions were back on the score sheet just a few minutes later when Brock's Robert Demelo pulled down a York player inside the 18 yard box, awarding York a penalty kick in the 36th minute. York midfielder Jonathan Lao made no mistake, firing a low shot passed Zoikos into the bottom right corner to give York a 2-0 lead.
The Badgers got their first goal scoring opportunity in the 48th minute when substitute Yan Ilic fired a shot off York goalkeeper Andrew D'Souzas' hands, directly onto the foot of Sammy Orlando who was all alone in front of net, but just missed with his shot as it sailed over the crossbar. This near goal seemed to have sparked the home side as they began playing with more energy. In the 58th minute, Orlando got his redemption by placing a left footed strike passed D'Souza to make the game 2-1.
Brock continued to push for the equalizer late in the game, creating scoring chances off crosses and long range shots, but none of these chances were good enough to beat starter Colm Vance, who returned to the game after being injured at the end of the first half.
Unfortunately the Badgers just ran out of time as the game came to a conclusion with the final score of 2-1 in favour of the York Lions.
The Badgers will be on the road for their next game, which is against Guelph on Sunday.
Source: Brock Badgers
Windsor 3 - Algoma 0 (Saturday)
Windsor 1 - Algoma 0 (Sunday)
SAULT STE. MARIE, Ont - The Lancer men's soccer team shut out the Algoma Thunderbirds in a pair of road games over the weekend in Sault Ste. Marie, ON.
The Lancers defeated the Thunderbirds 3-0 on Saturday and 1-0 on Sunday afternoon. With the pair of wins, the Blue & Gold are 6-3-0 on the year and in third place in the OUA west division standings.
Goaltenders Sam Atkin and Alec Borsos shared goaltending duties earning a shutout each.
After a scoreless first half on Saturday, Chris Lanni opened the scoring for Windsor with a goal in the 55th minute. Rookie Leaford Allen scored the Lancers second goal in the 82nd minute, while Kyle Ruggaber added an insurance marker during extra time.
Atkin made six saves in the victory.
Sunday's game also started with a scoreless first half as both teams battled hard on both sides of the field.
Akbal Gill scored the game's lone goal in the 66th minute to give Windsor the edge over the host Thunderbirds. The hosts battled hard in the closing minutes as they tried for the equalizer but the Lancer defense held strong to earn the win.
Soure: Windsor Lancers
OTHER SCORES: Trent 0 @ RMC 1
Sunday, September 28
Laurentian 1 @ Carleton 2
OTTAWA, Ont. – The Laurentian Men's soccer team played against the Carleton Ravens in Ottawa on Sunday, September 28. The men had earned a tie in their last game against Carleton, and were coming off a 6 point weekend against the UOIT Ridgebacks and Trent Excalibur. They needed another strong performance to take away points from the Ravens and remain in the race for a playoff spot.
The men got an early lead on the Ravens and had a strong first half of play, but they weren't able to hold back the home team for the full 90 minutes. Carleton scored halfway through the second to tie the game and got the go-ahead-goal in the dying minutes, walking away from the game with 3 points against the Voyageurs.
Laurentian had a strong first half of play. It was the Ravens that had the majority possession in the first 15 minutes of the game but it was the Voyageurs that took the lead 16 minutes in when Dean Pizolinas scored his third of the season. Third year Matthew Wilkes took the ball down the line to cross it into the Raven's box where Pizolinas connected and put the ball past Carleton's Felix Daigle.
The Voyageurs settled down and controlled the flow of the game around the midpoint of the half. They contained Carleton's offense and limited their opponent's scoring opportunities while creating some of their own in the Raven's end. Neither of the two teams scored for the remainder of the half, and the Voyageurs headed into halftime up 1-0 on the Ravens.
Coming into the second the Ravens increased their speed of play and took it to the Voyageurs. Walker Smith scored the tying goal off a corner kick with 19 minutes remaining to play. Laurentian's back line stood strong and disallowed the home team from scoring until the additional time in the second, when Daud Dahir got behind Laurentian's back line and slotted the ball in the bottom right corner of the net.
Laurentian used the last few seconds in the game to create the last scoring opportunity of the game, but Carleton's Daigle turned away the shot, keeping his team up 2-1 to end the game.
Source: Laurentian Voyageurs
Laruier 0 @ York 4
TORONTO, ONT - The No. 2 nationally-ranked York University Lions men's soccer team extended their winning streak to nine after a 4-0 win against the Laurier Golden Hawks on Sunday (Sept. 28) at York Stadium. The Lions provided an exciting game in their first match at home since August 31.
The team was able to keep possession brilliantly in the first half. Three consecutive corners went the Lions way within 10 minutes of the game.
An own goal in the 19th minute by the Hawks gave the Lions the lead. A cross by Henry Moody (Toronto) that was meant for Jarek Whiteman (Brampton, Ont.) fell to a Laurier defender, who heads it into his own net. Moody was credited with his third goal of the season.
The second goal came from Jonathan Lao of Unionville, Ont., in the 25th minute. Lao curled a free-kick that was taken just outside the box and into the net.
In the 34th minute, Casey D'Mello (Mississauga, Ont.) made a run down the left wing and laid the ball towards the middle for Whiteman to convert. The goal marks Whiteman's league-leading 11th of the season
The second half kicked off to a slower pace for the Lions as the Hawks began putting pressure on the defenders. Colm Vance (Bradford, Ont.) saved a one-on-one attempt by Laurier's Tahrik Rodriques in the 52nd minute. Rodriques was subbed out after falling awkwardly in the aftermath of the collision.
Jarek Whiteman came close to scoring a second in the 72nd minute, but a Golden Hawks defender denied him by sliding in to deflect the ball wide.
Tyrone Downes of Markham, Ont., recorded his first goal of the season with a shot inside the penalty box in the 75th minute.
Lions goalkeeper Colm Vance subbed out for Andrew D'Souza (Mississauga, Ont.) in the 78th minute. Neither goalkeepers conceded a goal in the game.
With this victory, the Lions take their record to an impressive 10-0-1 as they lead the OUA West standings with 31 points, 10 points ahead of second-place Guelph Gryphons.
Source: York Lions
Brock 2 @ Guelph 2
GUELPH, ONT - The Guelph Gryphons men's soccer team battled to a 2-2 draw today with the Brock Badgers at the Gryphons Soccer Complex. The Gryphons record moves to 6-1-3 while the Badgers are 1-5-5.
Starting forward Timothy Flynn (Scarborough, Ont.) jumped in right away to push the play into Brock's end. Possession went back and forth for most of the first half with the teams seeming equally matched. Guelph was the first to score in the 27th minute when Paul Manchisi (Oakville, Ont.) took a penalty kick. Flynn had several chances to score throughout the game but was unable to get on the board.
In the second half, Brock scored to tie the game in the 56th minute. Defender Stephen Veenema (Ottawa) and centre Michael Bijman (Brantford, Ont.) worked together effectively to clear the ball from their end. In the 66th minute, Paris Roserie (Mississauga, Ont.) was able to score off a rebound of Bijman to put Guelph in the lead. Centre Zachary Rushe (Mississauga, Ont.) maintained pressure one-on-one to prevent Brock from getting plays started.
Brock scored again in the 75th minute, and the last 15 minutes of the game were an intense back-and-forth between the two teams with multiple opportunities to score. Unfortunately, neither team was able to pull ahead and the game ended with a score of 2-2.
Source: Guelph Gryphons
Trent 1 @ Queen's 1
KINGSTON, Ont. - The men's soccer team came close to scoring in the final minute of play, but could not find the back of the net as they settled for the 1-1 draw against the Trent Excalibur.
In the final minute of injury time, Trent's keeper handled the ball just outside the top of the box, giving Gaels captain Chris Michael (Ottawa) an opportunity to secure the win for Queen's on a free kick. Michael sailed the ball over the net, ending the match as a 1-1 draw.
The Gaels grabbed the lead in the third minute of the match on a goal from Tanko Bacelic (Vancouver). Tommy Hong (Oakville, Ont.) advanced the ball to Eric Koskins (Richmond Hill, Ont.), who then made a low cross to Bacelic for the tally. Koskins came close to doubling the Gaels lead in the following minute but was denied by Trent keeper David Ellis. Queen's continued to generate scoring chances but could not deposit another into the back of the net. Trent knotted the score in the 33rd minute, after Marlon Adams buried a strike off a throw in. Both squads had opportunities to gain the lead in the final minutes of the first half, but neither team could convert to break the deadlock.
The second half was dominated by strong defensive play from both sides, as neither team surrendered a goal. Jacob Schroeter (Ottawa) had several scoring opportunities but could not beat Trent's keeper. Kristian Zanette (Thunder Bay, Ont.) came within inches of giving the Gaels the lead as he fired a powerful volley on net that was deflected over the bar on a beautiful save by Ellis. After Michael missed the free kick, the final whistle blew to end the match with the teams level at 1-1.
Queen's keeper Taylor Reynolds (Kingston, Ont.) registered five saves on the afternoon while his Trent counterpart collected nine.
Source: Queen's Gaels
Waterloo 1 @ McMaster 3
HAMILTON, Ont - The 8th-ranked Marauder men's soccer team got back on the winning track with a 3-1 decision over the Waterloo Warriors to end McMaster's Homecoming weekend with a win.
The first half saw McMaster control play by a fairly wide margin, but Waterloo took advantage of an opportunity and a rebound off a corner went to Yusef Khaled, who drove it past a diving Kieran Doyle-Davis in the Marauder net, to take a 1-0 lead.
McMaster had some great chances in the opening half, including David Serafini hitting the goalpost, but could not get on the scoreboard, and trailed by the single goal at intermission.
McMaster made some substitutions in the second half and kept up the pressure on the Warriors, as they tried to protect their slim lead. Finally in the 65th minute, the Marauders used a set piece off a free kick and Max Preocanin directed his header into the Warrior goal to even the score.
Now carrying all the momentum the Marauders took the lead in the 79th minute on a pretty goal from Chris Luxton, and before the Warriors could re-group Mark Reilly sent a perfect cross to Brandon Gutierrez who finished to make the score 3-1. The two quick strikes completely deflated Waterloo and McMaster was able to close out the victory.
Source: McMaster Marauders
UOIT 1 @ RMC 2
KINGSTON, Ont. – After picking up a point against Queen's on Saturday, the UOIT men's soccer team took one step back on Sunday as they dropped a 2-1 decision to the RMC Paladins.
Although UOIT (1-5-4) is looking in from the outside when it comes to the OUA playoff picture, they are by all means capable of reversing their fortunes sitting only two points out of fifth place. UOIT trails Nipissing (2-4-3) and RMC (3-7-0) by two points and Laurentian (2-5-2) by one.
On Sunday, RMC and UOIT played to a scoreless first half with the Ridgebacks firing four shots on target, all of which RMC goalkeeper Tobin Semple would stop.
In the second half, RMC would convert on half of their shots on net as they scored back-to-back goals to go ahead 2-0. After RMC's second goal, UOIT would quickly respond with Idrees Sheriff (Bermuda) scoring his first of the year just 50 seconds later. Unlike their previous meeting in Oshawa, UOIT was unable to complete the second half comeback as RMC won their second game of the weekend and split the season series with UOIT.
UOIT will look to begin their playoff push on Wednesday when they host the Toronto Varsity Blues (6-2-1). Luck was not on the Ridgebacks' side in their earlier meeting as Toronto walked away with a 5-1 victory at Varsity Stadium.
Source: UOIT Ridgebacks
