OUA Men's Soccer Roundup (Oct. 9)
October 4, 2017
Queen’s 5 RMC 0
KINGSTON, Ont. (October 4, 2017) – The Queens Gaels (4-4-3) took a shut out win 5-0 at RMC (0-8-3) on Wednesday night in OUA men's soccer.
GAME FLOW
The Gaels started the game strong with several quick offensive attacks on the Paladins net. The Tricolour took an early lead with a goal in the 4th minute of the game by Jacob Schroeter (Ottawa). Mid-way through the opening half, Inaki Hew (Singapore) extended the Queen's lead to 2-0 with an unassisted goal.
Another goal for Patrick Van Belleghem (Kenora, Ont.) put the Gaels up 3-0 to end the first half.
In the second half, Queen's stepped up the intensity, putting more pressure on the Paladins defence. Two more goals for Schroeter put the Queen's lead out of reach. Fantastic efforts from the Tricolour goalie Alex Jones (Comox, B.C.), maintained the lead for the Gaels and solidified the shutout win.
Jones came away with two saves in the Gaels victory.
BY THE NUMBERS
2 – Season shut outs for keeper Alex Jones
8 – Season goals for leading striker Jacob Schroeter
13 – Fouls for the Gaels in this match
Source: gogaelsgo.com
October 6, 2017
Waterloo 0 Laurier 0
WATERLOO, Ont. (Friday, October 6, 2017) – The Battle of Waterloo lived up to its billing Friday afternoon at University Stadium, as the Laurier Golden Hawks Men’s Soccer team endured a testing, physical matchup with rivals the Waterloo Warriors. The tightly contested match left little room for many offensive chances as the Waterloo Derby ended in a 0-0 draw.
The physicality could be seen from the start, as Hawks Midfielder Nicholas Amorim (Kitchener, Ont.) got booked for a yellow early. This was the first of three yellow cards handed out on the afternoon, a figure that could potentially have been greater.
The rough nature of the contest had an adverse effect on the Hawks (3-7-3) early, as starting goalkeeper Ryan Mandryk(Ancaster, Ont.) had to be taken off after going down hard with an injury. With Rocco Strazzella (Woodbridge, Ont.) into the game for the purple and gold, his defence rallied around him by stonewalling the Warriors (1-8-3), holding them to a measly four shots on the afternoon.
The Waterloo defence was holding up their end of the bargain as well in the opening half, limiting the Hawks to four shots in the opening 45 minutes. However, Laurier began to find the cracks after halftime, mounting the pressure on the Warriors and creating some great offensive chances, entertaining the many students in attendance for the annual ‘School Day Game’.
Malik Bromfield (Toronto, Ont.) was able to blast away a strike from close range, but Waterloo keeper Damian Kruschat (Kitchener, Ont.) turned him away with a key save. Laurier kept on the pressure into second half injury time. It looked as though Lucas Cabral (Kitchener, Ont.) was going to finally break it open in the dying seconds, but he sent his ball just over the top bar, allowing Waterloo to escape with the draw.
The Hawks now receive a break for reading week but will be back in action next weekend as they hit the road for key divisional clashes with Windsor and Western aiming to secure a playoff position with three games remaining. The purple and gold sit one point back of the Lancers for the sixth and final playoff spot.
Source: laurierathletics.com
York 3 McMaster 0
The No. 8 nationally-ranked York University Lions men's soccer team ran its unbeaten streak to nine matches on Friday night with a big 3-0 victory over the rival McMaster Marauders at Ron Joyce Stadium in Hamilton, Ont.
The win helped the Lions keep pace with the Guelph Gryphons atop the OUA West standings, where both teams sit with matching 9-2-1 records. The Marauders fell three points back with Friday's loss to the Lions and are currently third with an 8-3-1 record.
Cristian Cavallini got the ball rolling in the first half with a goal in the 15th minute of play that came after some confusion on the pitch whereby the free kick was never whistled in. The Lions played on and were rewarded with Cavallini's goal uncontested.
Just seven minutes later the Lions added to their lead, this time off the foot of Eddie Lay when he took a crossing pass and fired it into the bottom corner of the net.
The Lions held the 2-0 advantage into the halftime break.
In the 87th minute the Lions were awarded a penalty kick and Dylan Carreiro made no mistake, giving the Lions the 3-0 lead they would turn into the victory.
York goalkeeper Quillan Roberts had to make just one save for his first career win in net, while Jesse DiDomenico accomplished the same feat at the other end of the pitch while also allowing the three goals.
The Lions have one more road game of the season, against the Brock Badgers in St. Catharines, Ont., on Sunday afternoon, before returning home for their last three at Alumni Field. Kick-off on Sunday is set for 3:15pm
Source: yorkulions.ca
Guelph 2 Brock 1
ST. CATHARINES – It would have been easy for the Guelph Gryphons men's soccer team to take a step back after a dream 2016 season that produced an OUA championship and a U SPORTS bronze medal. But the No. 6 Gryphons seem to be getting better each week, thanks in large part to the poise of the players. Guelph passed another test Friday night in St. Catharines, coming from behind to beat the Brock Badgers 2-1 at Alumni Field.
Youssef Zaghloul scored an equalizer before halftime and Conor O'Callaghan headed home the eventual winner in the second half to keep the Gryphons tied atop the competitive OUA West with a 9-2-1 record.
"They're a very confident bunch," said head coach Keith Mason, who recently celebrated his 100th win in charge of the Gryphon program. "We again went down against a very good side but our guys have that determination and belief.
"We're very strong going forward, we can always score goals and as long as we keep our defence in order, the team believes they will be come back and score."
That ability to remain calm and steal points in the second half has been a Gryphon trademark this season. In St. Catharines, they had to do it again. The Badgers pressed the visitors early and would eventually take a 1-0 lead in the 18th minute when Alexander Makubuya was able to get one in behind goalkeeper Simon Norgrove.
But the Gryphons didn't panic. Guelph survived an early onslaught and began to get better possession before Zaghloul, one of the team's most reliable and creative players all season, tied the game 1-1 from a quick counter attack in the 35th minute. Zachary Rushe connected with Joshua Seguin, who sent a through ball to Zaghlouol. The third-year midfielder cut inside and hit a solid strike from just inside the 18-yard box, which took a deflection and wrong footed Brock goalkeeper Matthew Haggith.
"Brock were the better team in the first half," Mason said, noting the importance of a late goal to take the momentum. "They worked harder than we did, closed us down and didn't give us much time on the ball. It's a very small field and it played right into their hands."
O'Callaghan would get the winner in the 64th minute when he drilled home a powerful header off an ideal corner kick from Zaghloul.
The work wasn't done though as the Badgers desperately tried to find an equalizer. The Gryphons missed a penalty in the 88th minute that would have eased the pressure but they hung on through six added minutes of injury time for their ninth win of the season.
Norgrove was busy in the Guelph net, making five saves.
Mason has been impressed with how his players have grown into the season. The regulars have all come through at various times but substitutes have performed well, giving the team depth and confidence.
"Competition for places in the team is heating up," he said.
The Gryphons host McMaster on Wednesday, Oct. 11. Match time is 8:15 pm.
Source: gryphons.ca
October 7, 2017
Nipissing 0 Trent 5
Both of the Trent University Excalibur men's and women's soccer teams kicked off Thanksgiving weekend with victories over the Nipissing Lakers.
The men, led by captain Aaron Chia, had 3 goals in the Excalibur's 5-0 win! Mitch LeClair made 8 saves for the shutout, while Elliot Exton and David Ogbole scored singles, and Riley Patrick with 2 assists. With the win, the men extend their point streak to 4 games and improve their season record to 3-4-4.
Both teams are back in action tomorrow, October 8th at Justin Chiu Stadium, to continue their turkey hunt against the Laurentian Voyageurs.
Source: trentvarsity.ca
Laurentian 1 UOIT 1
OSHAWA, Ont. – The UOIT men's soccer team failed to hold on to a 1-0 halftime lead as they played to a 1-1 draw against the Laurentian Voyageurs Saturday afternoon at the Oshawa Civic.
UOIT (4-4-3) sits tied for fifth place with the Queen's Gaels (4-5-3) but have a game in hand. Both teams trail Laurentian (5-5-1) and Ryerson (5-6-1) by one point for home field advantage in the playoffs.
Fabio Campoli (Frosinone, Italy) got the Ridgebacks on the board in the 24th minute as he powered past a defender and chipped the ball by the charging goalkeeper for his fifth goal of the season.
Coming out at halftime, the Voyageurs wasted no time to level the score as defender Liam Ezzard caught the Ridgebacks standing still as he charged into the box and tapped one in off a scramble.
The goaltenders stole the show for the rest of the game making a number of key saves to keep it deadlocked. Nicholas Miller (Oshawa, Ont.) would end up with nine saves while his counterpart Connor Vande Weghe had 10. The teams combined for 23 shots in the second half.
The Civic had a playoff like atmosphere with both teams vying for three points. Things would get physical with the official issuing five yellow cards and 24 fouls being called.
UOIT will be back on the pitch on Sunday at 2:15 p.m. when they take on the Nipissing Lakers at the Oshawa Civic. The Ridgebacks will also have two more home games this week when they host the RMC Paladins (Wednesday) and Carleton Ravens (Saturday).
NOTE: The Ridgebacks would like to thank all of the fans who contributed to the #thinkpink campaign in support of the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation and SickKids Foundation.
Source: goridgebacks.com
Toronto 3 Ryerson 4
On what proved to be a sweltering October afternoon, columns of fans poured into Varsity Stadium with the hopes of seeing an intense bout of OUA soccer between the two dominant teams from the GTA; they would not be disappointed.
Although, from the opening whistle the match-up appeared to be rather uneven, with the favour being tilted towards the Rams. From the opening whistle to the conclusion of the first half, the University of Toronto showcased neither the team chemistry, nor the skill, that has made them such a formidable force this year.
Errors in the realm of forced offensive attempts and a lack of formidable defensive coverage, allowed Ryerson’s Andrew Dias (Toronto, Ont.) to open the scoring with a shot that split through the defense of the Varsity Blues, and put the Rams up 1-0.
In the minutes following this opening goal, the Rams showcased an aggressive determination to overcome their cross-town rival. The expected tenacity of the Rams offensive line-up was showcased in players such as Abdallah El-Chanti (Toronto, Ont.) and Nick Lambis (Pickering, Ont.), whose simultaneous ability to split the Varsity Blues defensive line kept consistent pressure on the visiting team. While on the defensive end, Kyle Stewart (Kingston, Jamaica) and Robert Boskovic (Mississauga, Ont.) maintained consistent pressure and provided tremendous man-to-man coverage.
These efforts by the Rams greatly contributed to the team's ability to add two more goals to their 1-0 lead. At the thirtieth minute, Nick Lambis (Pickering, Ont.) tucked away an uncontested goal inside of the keeper’s box, following a beautiful cross provided by teammate Raheem Rose (Toronto, Ont.). In line with this method of scoring, it was almost déjà vu when Lambis put in his second goal of the match at the thirty-fifth minute to put the Rams up 3-0.
However, the Rams would not be able to hold onto this lead going into halftime, as UofT’s Nirun Sivananthan (Brampton, Ont.) scored on a diving header in the forty-fifth minute to put the Varsity Blues on the board.
As the teams came back onto the pitch for the second half of the match, it would seem that the University of Toronto had fixed whatever had ailed them in the first forty-five minutes of play. A renewed focus on offensive intensity seemed to be the Varsity Blues’ new strategy, as they picked apart a Rams defensive effort that did not seem to adjust to this change of pace. This new style of play proved to be advantageous to the visiting team, as the Varsity Blues’ Jack Wadden (Ottawa, Ont.) scored in the sixty-first minute to close the Rams lead to 3-2.
This continuous carving into a large lead that they once held seemed to contribute a tremendous amount of pressure to the Rams line-up. Thankfully, this pressure was relieved when, in the eighty-seventh minute, Raheem Rose fired in a short distance goal that would increase the Rams lead to 4-2. The Varsity Blues’ Nirun Sivananthan (Brampton, Ont.) would eventually tuck away his second goal of the match in the ninetieth minute to bring the scoring to 4-3, but it was too little, too late.
Source: ryersonrams.ca
Western 4 Algoma 0
SAULT STE. MARIE, Ont. – Four different players tallied goals as the Western Mustangs defeated the Algoma Thunderbirds 4-0 on Saturday afternoon at Superior Heights Field.
The win moves Western to 7-2-3 on the year, good for fourth place in the OUA West, just four points back of the first place Guelph Gryphons. Algoma falls to 1-10-0 with the loss.
The Mustangs used a balanced attack on Saturday, with Luca Trivisonno, Lucas Ventura, Patrick Melo, and Connor Wilson all scoring one goal each.
Kody Thomson got the win in the Mustangs net, turning aside three shots to earn the clean sheet. Tanvir Grewal made nine saves for the Thunderbirds in the loss.
Trivisonno opened the scoring for the Mustangs, netting a goal just seven minutes in off an assist from Braeden Gee to give Western an early 1-0 lead.
Western controlled the play throughout the half, registering 21 shots compared to seven for Algoma. Ventura extended the Mustangs lead to 2-0 just before halftime, scoring in the 43rd minute.
The Mustangs continued to roll in the second half, outshooting the Thunderbirds 12-2 over the final 45 minutes. Melo and Wilson provided the offence in the frame, scoring in the 70th and 79th minutes to give Western a 4-0 win.
Next up for the purple and white is another matchup with the Thunderbirds, with game time set for 2:15 p.m. on Sunday afternoon at Superior Heights Field.
Source: westernmustangs.ca
Queens 0 Carleton 2
OTTAWA, ON — The No. 4 Carleton Ravens men’s soccer team moved one step closer to clinching first place in the OUA East with a 2-0 shutout over the Queen’s Gaels at MNP Park on Saturday afternoon.
“We knew what this game was going to be about – Queen’s usually comes out and gives us a little bit of a harder time,” said head coach Kwesi Loney. “It was great to see us play possession football again and just dictate the pace.”
Rising up the U SPORTS Top 10, Carleton entered their weekend home stand with destiny in their own hands.
On a dreary October afternoon, the Ravens were lucky enough to play in front of an extremely rowdy crowd chanting and banging drums throughout the match – many of the fans were there to support Sultan Alaitah (Ottawa, ON) in his season debut coming back from injury.
Much like most of their games this season, Carleton came out on fire with a quick 7th minute goal. Emad Houache (Ottawa, ON) crossed the ball from the deep-left side into the box where it was deflected to Gabriel Bitar (Ottawa, ON). The rookie striker found the back of the net for his first of the afternoon, giving the Ravens an early 1-0 lead.
The Carleton men were relentless throughout the half with many powerful shots that just missed or hit the post but Queen’s got an opportunity to capitalize in the 40th minute.
Keeper Nick Jeffs (Ottawa, ON) was unable to control the ball as it bounced over his head toward the net. Defender Alaitah – who was consistently strong on the afternoon – saved the day, clearing the ball with his head, preserving the 1-0 lead heading into halftime.
Carleton’s offence picked up where it left off to start the second, with a 54th minute goal. Bitar launched a shot from 30-yards out that ricocheted off a player and to the keeper, who fumbled the ball. It went right through his hands and into the net for Bitar’s second of the day and 11th on the year.
The Ravens’ 2-0 lead would hold until the end of the match as the men continued to dominate possession and infuriate the Gaels defence.
The result moves Carleton to 10-1-2 – matching last year’s win total – with three games remaining.
While the Ravens men were out subduing Queen’s, they were surely thinking about the battle of giants in Toronto happening at the same time.
Ryerson defeated their cross-town rival, Toronto, 4-3 in a dramatic thriller. The Rams’ win is crucial for Carleton as the men now sit seven points ahead of the second-place Varsity Blues.
“For us, it doesn’t matter what anybody else does,” said Loney. “Obviously there are some gifts here and there when the other top teams in your league drop some points, but for us we’re just focusing on ourselves.”
Ryerson moves into a tie with Laurentian for third in the OUA East, which bodes well for Carleton in the playoffs.
If Carleton can hold on to first place and if Ryerson can secure third on the season, the two teams are guaranteed not to meet until a potential medal-round matchup.
The Ravens will take on bottom-dwelling RMC Paladins next. Kick-off is set for 3:15 p.m. at MNP Park on Sunday.
Source: goravens.ca
October 8, 2017
Western 1 Algoma 2
SAULT STE. MARIE, Ont. – A free kick goal from Ryan Marchan early in the second half proved to be the difference as the Algoma Thunderbirds defeated the Western Mustangs 2-1 on Sunday afternoon at Superior Heights Field.
Western moves to 7-3-3 with the loss, and the Mustangs hold down fourth place in the OUA West. Algoma improves their record to 2-10-0 with Sunday's win.
The Mustangs controlled the play throughout the game, outshooting their opponents 16-3 in the first half. Luca Trivisonno put the Mustangs on the board in the 21st minute with his second goal of the weekend.
Algoma tied things up in the final minutes of the first half off a goal from Brandon Bangambee to send the team's into the locker room tied 1-1.
The Thunderbirds would go ahead five minutes into the second half, with Marchan scoring on a free kick at the 48-minute mark to give the home side a 2-1 lead.
Western continued to control the play in the second half, generating 11 shots compared to two from the Thunderbirds, however Algoma would escape with a 2-1 win.
Next up for the Mustangs is the team's final home game of the regular season on Saturday, October 14, against the Laurier Golden Hawks. Game time is set for 3:15 p.m. at Mustang Field.
Source: westernmustangs.ca
Nipissing 1 UOIT 2
OSHAWA, Ont. – Erik Petrovic's (Sombor, Serbia) two-goal performance led the UOIT men's soccer team to a 2-1 victory over the Nipissing Lakers Sunday afternoon at the Oshawa Civic.
The Ridgeback captain scored in the opening minute of the game and followed that up win the game-winning goal in the 34th minute on a great solo effort as UOIT extended their point streak to five games.
UOIT (5-4-3) moves into fourth place in the conference standings, trailing Laurentian (6-5-1) by one point. The Ridgebacks are two points up on the Ryerson Rams (5-6-1) and three ahead of the Queen's Gaels (4-5-3) for home field advantage in the playoffs.
Fabio Campoli (Frosinone, Italy) set up both of Petrovic's goals. In the opening minute, Campoli beat a pair of Laker defenders and sent a cross into the box that Petrovic put in with a header.
Nipissing would strike back just seven minutes later when William Tsilkas beat starting goalkeeper Nicholas Miller (Oshawa, Ont.) with an outside shot.
On the game-winning goal, Campoli found Petrovic ten yards outside the box and the captain would dribble around two defenders and beat the keeper in the bottom left corner.
Source: uoitridgebacks.com
RMC 0 Carleton 5
OTTAWA, ON — The Carleton Ravens men’s soccer team spanked the RMC Paladins 5-0 en route to their sixth win in a row at MNP Park on Sunday afternoon.
The win officially secures a first-round playoff bye for Carleton and puts the team a win, a Toronto tie, or a Toronto loss away from clinching its first OUA East title since 2011.
Having already surpassed their goals scored total from last season, the Ravens have now surpassed last year’s win total.
The men struggled to control the game early as the Paladins came out with strong fitness and offered some offensive pressure in the Carleton half, but the floodgates would open quickly.
Gabriel Bitar (Ottawa, ON) finally broke through in the 28th minute on a textbook two on one drive. Ricky Comba (Ottawa, ON) passed the ball through a defender and across the box to Bitar who had a clear opportunity and fired it home to take a 1-0 lead.
The rookie striker wasn’t done yet as he potted his second of the afternoon in the 36th minute. He received a long bass down the spine of the field, went on a clean breakaway and easily sniped a shot past the Paladins keeper to extend his team’s lead to 2-0.
It’s Bitar’s 13th of the season, tying him with fellow rookie Stefan Karajovanovic(Gatineau, QC) for top of the U SPORTS scoring charts.
“It’s been great to see them score as often as they have been,” said head coach Kwesi Loney of his two star strikers. “To see them do so as first year players is also a big deal. They’ve created so many chances I think they should actually have more, but at the same time it’s good to see them competing.”
Comba joined Bitar in the scoring frenzy and made it three for the Ravens men as he found the back of the net in the dying minutes of the half.
They quickly opened the second with another goal. Jimi Aribido (Port Harcourt, NGA) passed a stellar ball through a defender to Jeremy Aweya (Kanata, ON), who clinically finished it to take a commanding 4-0 lead in the 49th minute.
Just moments after subbing into the game, David Aguib (Toronto, ON) found an opening in the defence and promptly launched a beautiful laser into the bottom left corner from 30-plus-yards out for his first of the season – Carleton’s fifth of the afternoon.
“When we look at the bench, we refer to them as impact players because they’re the players coming in, impacting the game defensively or scoring-wise,” said Loney. “It allows us to know who we can bring in, not skip a beat and I think they did really well today.”
The 5-0 score would hold and, with the win, Carleton moves to 11-1-2 – 10 points up on second-place Toronto – ahead of the team’s final weekend of regular-season play.
The men will head out west to Oshawa to kick off their road trip against the UOIT Ridgebacks, who will be looking to preserve their own playoff standing.
“We want to end off the last games – six points, a clean sheet – and head off into the playoffs on a good note,” said Loney. “It’s about focusing on the details this week in training and making sure we come out and have a good weekend.”
Kick-off is set for 3:15 p.m. Saturday at Vaso’s Field.
Source: goravens.ca
York 3 Brock 0
The York University Lions men's soccer team travelled to St. Catharines, Ont., on Thanksgiving Sunday to take on the Brock Badgers. The Lions came out with a 3-0 win over the Badgers and extended their unbeaten streak to 10 matches.
Scorers for the Lions were Milan Beader in the first half, and Cristian Cavallini and Joey Cicchillo in the second half. Goalkeeper Quillan Roberts finished with his second clean sheet of the season, blocking the Badgers' three attempts to score.
The Lions sit at the top of the OUA West Division standings with 31 points and a 10-2-1 season record, three points ahead of the second-place Guelph Gryphons.
The Lions will look to add another win on Saturday, Oct. 14 when they take on the Algoma Thunderbirds. Game time is 3:15pm at Alumni Field in the first of two match-ups between the two squads next weekend.
Source: yorkulions.ca
Other Scores
Laurentian 2 Trent 0
