WESTERN WINS OUA CHAMPIONSHIP IN PENALTY KICKS
Jason De Thomasis scored the lone regulation goal for Western in the 91st minute continuing his hot streak. Then De Thomasis drove home the winning kick in the shootout, a bottom-corner bullet that lifted the Mustangs to the OUA championship victory as Western won the penalty kick segment 5-4.
With the victory, the Mustangs advance to the CIS national championships in Edmonton, Alta., Nov. 9-12.
\"Jason's goal in regulation was just a brilliant left-footer,\" said head coach Rock Basacco. \"He just let it go from 25 metres out, it was a rocket, right into the top corner. Their goalie had no chance.\"
Western was playing with a man advantage after a Varsity Blues player was ejected for a dirty tackle.
\"We had controlled possession for good parts of the game,\" Basacco said. \"After their man was ejected in the 60th minute, we put a lot of pressure on and generated as much as we could to get the tying goal.\"
With the game tied, and up a man, Western had an opportunity to seal the victory.
\"We dominated in overtime and they went into a defensive shell,\" Basacco said.
Then in the shootout the first four shooters from both teams scored with deadly accurate shooting, Basacco said.
\"With their fifth shooter, (Western goalie) Haidar (Al Shaibani) made a great save it,\" Basacco said. \"It was going bottom right an he just snuffed it.\"
On the next shot, with the game on the line, De Thomasis buried it in the bottom right corner and Western celebrated with the victory.
(Source: Andy Watson, Western Sports Information.)
(Photo by Craig Glover.)
HOST BADGERS DOWN GAELS FOR BRONZE
ST. CATHARINES, Ont. - The #3 ranked and OUA West Regular Season Champion Brock University men's soccer team (9-1-4 OUA, 2-1 Playoffs) took the OUA Bronze medal on Sunday defeating the #6 ranked Queen's Golden Gaels 1-0 in their season finale.
The game had a very lackadaisical demeanour about it as both teams were trying to play through disappointing losses in the OUA Semi-finals a day earlier. The Badgers would capitalize in the 68th minute as Dan DePalma (Hamilton, Ont.) took a ball from Will Gott (Feversham, Ont.) who received a pass from Joe DelPriore (St. Catharines, Ont.) and blast a ball past the Queen's Keeper.
The Badgers lose several players to graduation including hometown player DelPriore. DelPriore is the last remaining player link to the Badgers 2002 National Championship. In his 5 seasons in a Badgers uniform DelPriore has won 3 OUA Bronze medals and a National Championship.
The Badgers would like to thank all those that supported the team in their OUA West Regular Season Championship Season including their student therapists, therapists, support staff, coaches, parents, and fans.
(Source: Paul Piscitelli, Brock Sports Information.)