M-SOCCER ROUNDUP: Road teams record four shutouts in five game during midweek action
Wednesday, October 1
McMaster 1 @ Brock 0
ST. CATHARINES, Ont - The Brock University men's soccer team (1-5-7 OUA) fell to the McMaster Marauders (8-1-2 OUA), Wednesday afternoon, by the score of 1-0.
McMaster would promise to be a tough opponent for Brock as they sat in second place in the West going into Wednesday's match. Unfortunately, the Badgers were unable to come away with a point, despite a strong effort in a match that could have seen either team go away with a win.
In the first half, the pace of play was fast, with both teams jostling for possession of the ball. Brock was able to gain control early on in the match, but were unable to put the ball past McMaster starter Angelo Cavalluzzo, as the score was knotted at 0-0 after 45 minutes.
In the second half, both teams defense continued to play strong, as neither team had any key scoring opportunities.
In the 80th minute, the Marauders would get on the board as Sasha Riccuiti picked up a loose ball just inside the box and buried a shot over a sprawling Jake Sweetzer, into the back of the goal for the 1-0 lead and eventual game winner. Brock made a strong push to tie it up, but would come up one goal short for the second straght home game against one of the league best.
In goal, Sweetzer collected three saves in the loss, while McMaster's Cavalluzzo picked up two of his own in the victory.
Source: Brock Badgers
Nipissing 0 @ Laurentian 1
SUDBURY, Ont. - The Laurentian Voyageurs Men's soccer team played against the Nipissing Lakers this evening in their second contest of the season. The first game ended in a tie, and the men needed the 3 points to make a jump in the standings and get into a playoff spot.
Laurentian's offense dominated the first half of play, but it wasn't until the 71st minute of the game that the Voyageurs found the back of the net. Fourth year Ason Harry scored his first of the season off a scramble in the box, putting his team up 1-0 for the remainder of the game.
Laurentian started off the game a little slowly, and allowed the Lakers to dictate the flow of the game for the first 10 minutes. Once their nerves were out the Voyageurs pressured their opponents and took control of the play. The men used their speed up the wings to get crosses behind the Lakers' back line and into the box, but were unable to capitalize on their chances.
Nipissing's Grainger Munro stopped 6 shots that the Voyageurs got on net in the first, while Duncan Jobson turned away the single shot that he faced in the first. After a scoreless first half the men headed into the second tied at 0-0 with 45 minutes left to play.
Coming into the second the Lakers picked up their tempo of play. Their offense dominated the second half, however it was the Voyageurs that scored the game's lone goal. Halfway through the second Laurentian forward Ason Harry put the ball past Munro for his first goal of the season on a scramble within the Lakers' box.
Laurentian's back line kept the Lakers from creating too many threatening opportunities, and goaltender Duncan Jobson stopped everything that Nipissing got on net, earning his second shutout of the season. Neither team was able to score for the remainder of the game, and the Voyageurs earned the 3 points over their northern rivals in a 1-0 contest.
The men's win put them into fifth in the OUA East, jumping over Nipissing and RMC with a total 11 points to their season.
Source: Laurentian Voyageurs
Queen's 2 @ Carleton 0
OTTAWA, Ont. - The Gaels earned their sixth win of the season after defeating the Carleton Ravens 2-0 on the road Wednesday night.
Neither team could find the back of the net in the first half, as scoring chances were limited for both squads.
The Gaels opened the scoring in the 49th minute as a midfield free kick led to a loose ball in front of the Carleton net that was buried by Henry Bloemen (Toronto). Queen's would add their second of the game during stoppage time on a breakaway goal from Will Twardek (Ottawa). Jacob Schroeter (Ottawa) took advantage of the Ravens defensive miscue and sprung Twardek on the breakaway.
Gaels keeper Maxfield Materne (Toronto) was perfect for the match, earning the five save clean sheet. With today's victory, Queen's moved into a tie with Carleton for third in the OUA East standings.
The Gaels (6-2-3) travel to Sudbury to battle the Laurentian Voyageurs in their next match on Saturday afternoon.
Source: Queen's Gaels
Toronto 2 @ UOIT 0
OSHAWA, Ont. – The UOIT men's soccer team suffered their second straight loss as the Toronto Varsity Blues left Oshawa with a 2-0 shutout victory.
UOIT remains in eighth place with a 1-6-4 record, trailing Nipissing and RMC by two points for the final playoff position. Toronto is now 7-2-1 and have won five straight conference games including a 3-0 shutout over the nationally ranked Ryerson Rams.
Toronto wasted no time getting on the board against UOIT as OUA leading scorer Kilian Elkinson scored just six minutes into the contest. The fifth year forward would add another goal eight minutes into the second half, bringing his season total to 11.
The Ridgebacks were only able to muster one shot that was on target, in which Toronto goalkeeper Mark Rogal stopped. Toronto outshot UOIT 10-3.
Up next for the Ridgebacks is a trip to Peterborough to take on the Trent Excalibur. Trent (1-8-2) trails UOIT by two points. The game will be a part of the Head of the Trent festivities.
Source: UOIT Ridgebacks
Western 1 @ Windsor 0
WINDSOR, Ont. – A goal from Christian Douglas in the dying minutes of the game gave the Western Mustangs men's soccer team a 1-0 victory against the Windsor Lancers on Wednesday night.
The third year striker now sits at 9 goals on the season, a statistic which is good for third on the OUA leaderboard.
The match was a back-and-forth battle between the Mustangs and Lancers, with both teams recording numerous attempts on net but with neither side being successful. With the scoreboard sitting at 0-0 at the end of the first 45 minutes of play, both teams would start the second half looking to step it up and claim the win.
Again, the play would appear to be back and forth between the teams, with both teams making offensive pushes. As the match entered the final five minutes of play it seemed as though things would end in a tie, however the Mustangs were not satisfied with that outcome. In the 86th minute of play their persistence would pay off as Douglas blasted a late goal past Lancers goalie Alec Borsos to give Western a 1-0 victory and goalie Ben Cowman the shutout.
Western have now won their past two games with their record improving to 6-4-1, good for fourth place in the OUA West standings, while Windsor falls to 6-4-0.
Source: Western Mustangs
Ryerson 2 @ Trent 0
PETERBOROUGH, Ont. - The Ryerson Rams men's soccer team got back in the win column on Wednesday night following a 2-0 victory over the Trent Excalibur in Peterborough.
The Rams were quick to strike as Viktor Anastasov (Toronto) opened the scoring in the 2nd minute of play. The fifth year striker now leads the team with five goals this season.
Midfielder Adam Hemati (Vaughan, Ont.) scored his first OUA goal in the 29th minute to give the Rams some breathing room.
Ryerson carried the play throughout the match but veteran keeper Christian Maraldo (Mississauga, Ont.) needed to make five saves during the contest to preserve the cleansheet victory for the Rams.
With the win, the Rams improve to 9-1-0 on the season and continue to lead the OUA east division standings. Ryerson is back on the field on Sunday, October 5 when they host the Carleton Ravens at 2:15 p.m. at Monarch Park Stadium.
Source: Ryerson Rams