Day 2 of Men’s U Sports Nationals
So let’s take a look at what went on Day two of the U Sports Men’s National Soccer Championships in Sydney, NS. All stories courtesy of U Sports and Cape Breton Athletics.
CONSOLATION #1: Fenton’s late winner keeps X-Men’s season alive
Blake Fenton scored a late game-winner as the STFX X-Men defeated the Carleton Ravens 2-1 in the first consolation game of the 2023 U SPORTS men’s soccer championships in Sydney, N.S. on Friday morning.
The goal by Fenton, who managed to just stay onside to receive the cross from Logan Rieck, came in the 89th minute and was exactly what the X-Men needed to pull out the win.
STFX opened the scoring just 27 seconds into the game when a series of great passes found Samuel Barrowcliffe wide open at the penalty spot, and he made no mistake putting it past Ravens ’keeper Tyler David.
Down 1-0 for the majority of the game, Carleton tried hard to even it up in the second half, with seven shots and four on goal in the final 45 minutes. They only found the back of the net after conceding the second goal, when Darren Bouaziz scored in stoppage time on just the second corner kick of the entire game. They cut the deficit to 2-1, but the comeback attempt was too little, too late.
CONSOLATION #2: Panatelo roars for the Lions in shootout win over UQTR
Stefano Pantaleo made two big saves as the York Lions defeated the UQTR Patriotes 0-0 (4-3) in penalty kicks in the second consolation semifinal of the 2023 U SPORTS men’s soccer championships in Sydney, N.S., Friday afternoon.
The Lions goalkeeper initially made the first save of the penalty kicks on Etienne Bertrand, but was instead given a yellow card for moving off his line early. Bertrand got another chance and made no mistake. Pantaleo would go on to stop both Vincent Lamy and Nicolas Desjardins to give York the win.
Patriots ’keeper Mathieu Lacharite made five saves in regulation, but was not able to get enough stops during penalty kicks to help his team avoid elimination.
Both teams had their chances to take the first lead of the game, but the Lions were the aggressors early on, outshooting the Patriotes 9-3 in the first half and keeping the pressure on UQTR’s defence early in the second. The tide turned midway through the final 45 minutes when the momentum shifted in favour of the Patriotes, with eight shots and two on goal in the second half.
York would still finish with 15 shots and five on goal, compared to UQTR’s 11 shots and just two on goal.
The Lions will play the STFX X-Men tomorrow at 1 p.m. (Atlantic) for fifth place in the tournament, while the Patriotes’ season is officially over.
SF# 1: Carabins shut out UBC, will go for gold on Sunday
And now from the redundancy department of redundancy, Les Carabins have done it again, they are in the U Sports Men’s Soccer National Championship.
The Montréal Carabins shut out the UBC Thunderbirds 2-0 and advanced to the championship of the 2023 U SPORTS men’s soccer championships in Sydney, N.S. on Friday evening.
The RSEQ runners-up were aggressive attacking all game long, taking 14 shots with six on goal. They did not truly break through until late in the game, when Julian Bruce headed a cross right to the feet of Yohan Le Bourhis, who had no problem finding the back of the net in the 81st minute to open up the scoring.
Sami McDuff added the insurance goal just over a minute later, after subbing in four minutes earlier. A beautiful through ball from Quentin Paumier set McDuff up nicely with only the Thunderbirds ’keeper to beat, and he did just that.
Sebastian Dzikowski gave UBC its biggest chance when a clearing attempt by a Carabins defender landed right at his feet, but the 2023 U SPORTS player of the year could not convert, blasting the ball off the crossbar. The Thunderbirds finished with just six shots in the game, none of them on goal.
The Carabins will play for gold on Sunday at 2 p.m. (Atlantic) against the winner of the second semifinal matchup between the Mount Royal Cougars and the Cape Breton Capers, while the Thunderbirds will battle for bronze at 11 a.m. against the loser of that game.
SF #2: Sheppard herds Capers in upset of top-seeded Mount Royal
Owen Sheppard scored his third goal of the tournament to bring the home team to the finals as the Cape Breton Capers squeaked out a win over the Mount Royal Cougars 1-0 on Friday night at the 2023 U SPORTS men’s soccer championships in Sydney, N.S.
The only goal of the match came in the 72nd minute when a long ball from all the way out at the midfield line was chested down by Nikolai Scheurenbran, right to the feet of Sheppard, who made no mistake with a big strike past Cougars ’keeper Aidan Dumoulin. Sheppard’s attempt to take an early lead in the 35th minute was stopped by Dumoulin, but he would not be denied a second time as he scored the game winner.
The Cougars increased the pressure after the goal, but just could not push past the Capers defence. Great opportunities in the 77th minute by Benedikt Mehl and in the 86th minute by Alex Kemsley were either stopped by Daniel Clarke or blocked by the defence. Mount Royal ended up outshooting Cape Breton 16-4, but could not convert on any of their opportunities.
Cape Breton will face the Montréal Carabins in the final on Sunday at 2 p.m. (Atlantic) to battle for gold, while Mount Royal will play for the bronze against the UBC Thunderbirds at 11 a.m.
Sources: https://usports.ca/en/sports/soccer/m/news/2023/11/1598555676/msoc-csf1
https://usports.ca/en/championships/soccer/f/news/2023/11/2645072437/msoc-csf2
https://usports.ca/en/sports/soccer/m/news/2023/11/2633647475/msoc-sf1
https://usports.ca/en/sports/soccer/m/news/2023/11/2506256969/msoc-sf2