McMaster, Toronto earn trip to CIS championship in penalty kicks

TORONTO - The McMaster Marauders and University of Toronto Varsity Blues both earned a spot in tomorrow’s gold-medal match with shootout victories over the Carleton Ravens and Western Mustangs, respectively, in OUA semi-final action on Saturday, November 7 at Varsity Centre.

The Marauders defeated the Ravens 3-1 in penalty kicks to come away with a 1-0 victory, while the Blues beat the Mustangs 5-4 in the second shootout of the day to earn a 3-2 win. Both Toronto and McMaster also secured a trip to Langley, B.C. for the 2009 CIS men’s soccer championship (Nov. 12-15) hosted by Trinity Western.

In their first semifinal appearance since 1994, the Marauders held possession in the early going, winning two corners in the first 15 minutes of the contest. Ravens goalkeeper Karl Wasslen (Ottawa) was aggressive, coming off his line to deny numerous threatening runs by the McMaster forwards.

Carleton forward Jonni Okai found himself with a brilliant opportunity after a turnover by the Marauders defence. The Ottawa native fired a shot from the top of the penalty area that sailed just over the crossbar as the game remained scoreless mid-way through the first half.

The scoring chance seemed to light a fire under the Ravens, who maintained consistent pressure in the Marauders half. They managed to win three penalty corners in a ten minute span but were unable to connect with any real threat on goal.

The teams continued to exchange corner kicks in the final minutes of the half, however, the game would remain a stalemate at the break.

The Marauders started off the second frame with an excellent scoring opportunity. After a free kick was awarded just outside the penalty area, Steven Di Pietro was left unmarked and received a pass with a clear shot on goal. The Hamilton, Ont. native whistled a shot for the low right corner but was denied on a wonderful diving save by Wasslen.

The Ravens responded at the mid-way point of the half, as Joey Kewin (London, Ont.) was left with a wide open chance at the penalty spot. The London Ont. native sent a hard, high shot that forced Matthew Grant into a lovely save as he jumped and was able to get his hands on the ball, tipping it over the crossbar.

Although the play was fast paced and end-to-end, no one would find the goal in regulation and overtime would be needed.

The first 15 minutes was uneventful, as both sides were content to play a more conservative game.

The beginning of the second overtime saw Marauders midfielder Anthony Costa (Stoney Creek, Ont.) make an excellent run down the left flank and get a solid shot off that was well saved on another great play by Wesslen.

After that opportunity, the teams settled down once again and played out the rest of the overtime period in a more conservative style. The game would be decided by sudden death penalty kicks.

The Marauders buried their first three penalty kicks, on well placed shots by Costa, Moseki (Hamilton), and Nakeeb. McMaster goalkeeper Matthew Grant (Brampton, Ont.) made two fabulous diving saves on the first two Ravens shooters.

The Marauders secured the 3-1 shootout victory when Carleton midfielder Peter Manginas (Belleville, Ont.) nailed his kick off the corner of the crossbar.

In the second semifinal of the day, the Blues looked dominant early in the contest and opened the scoring in the 23rd minute. After Nordo Gooden received a beautiful pass from Geoffrey Borgmann (Dixie, Ont.), the Kingston, Jam. native one-timed the ball into the right corner of the net to put the Blues up 1-0.

However, Ian Meagher would shock the home crowd, evening the game at 1-1 just five minutes later. The Mississauga, Ont. native found the ball just inside the top of the penalty box and launched a shot into the bottom left corner past Blues goalkeeper John Smits (Mississauga, Ont.).

Minutes before the half time whistle, Dylan Bams of Fanny Bay B.C created a turnover and made a great individual play to find some open space in the penalty area. He was stopped on a well-timed challenge by Western goalkeeper Andrew Murdoch (Burlington, Ont.)

U of T nearly took the lead back in the 58th minute, as Bams continued his skilful work. He found Gooden with a wonderful overhead cross, who headed the ball towards the low left corner. Murdoch came up big again, making an excellent diving stop as he tipped the ball out of bounds, keeping the game level at 1-1.

Mark Pocrnic (London, Ont.) came close to putting the Mustangs ahead in the 70th minute, as he got his head to a cross close to goal. Smits had to remain solid, making a difficult catching stop and allowing no rebounds on the play.

The Mustangs maintained pressure on the top-seeded Blues and Ryan Avola (London, Ont.) found some space down the right side. He was able to get a shot away that was well controlled by Smits.

Toronto forward Gabe Gala (Brampton, Ont.) then received a pass behind the Mustang defence that sent him in alone on goal. Murdoch was brilliant once again, coming off his line and robbing Gala of a sure goal.

Neither team would find the goal before the full time whistle and the game would continue into overtime.

The first overtime period was dominated by the Varsity Blues, who seemed to raise their energy levels, beating the Mustangs to many free balls and winning a couple of corner kicks.

However, Western would be awarded a free kick in a dangerous place, just outside the penalty box. Eric Amato (Toronto) sent a low, curving drive that found its way safely into the hands of Smits once again.

The Blues answered with a chance of their own as Darragh McGee (Donegal, Ire.) launched a shot in close that nailed the side mesh, grazing the outside of the right post.

With only two minutes remaining in the first overtime period, Gooden tallied his second goal of the match. The OUA leading scorer got to a loose ball that deflected off of a Mustang defender and calmly placed it past a sprawling Murdoch to put the Blues up 2-1.

Gooden nearly completed a hat trick in the second overtime period, as he was robbed by Murdoch, who then recovered to deny Michael Prouse (Scarborough, Ont.), giving his team a chance to even the contest.

His saves would prove crucial, as the Mustangs would win a corner with only five minutes remaining. After the cross was sent in, a scramble play ensued in front of the goal. The ball found its way to Michael Sawchuk (London, Ont.), who made no mistake, tying the game at 2-2 in the dying minutes of overtime and forcing penalty kicks for the second time of the day.

The Mustangs would capitalize on their first four penalty kicks, while the Blues could only connect on three-of-four.

With the Blues down a score, Mario Nallira stepped up as the fifth kicker. The Toronto native sent a bullet into the top left corner, leaving Murdoch with no chance to attempt a save on the play.

Smits then stepped up, making the save of his life as he robbed Mark Pocrnic of a sure goal, sending the game into sudden death penalty kicks.

Geoffrey Borgmann scored for the Blues and Smits came up big once again, denying Michael Marcoccia (London, Ont.) to send his squad to the CIS championship as well as the OUA gold-medal game tomorrow afternoon.

Carleton and Western will square-off in the bronze-medal match tomorrow (Nov. 8) at 11:30 a.m. The gold medal game will follow when the No. 1 Varsity Blues take on the McMaster Marauders, scheduled to begin at 2:00 p.m.