WESTERN MUSTANGS & YORK LIONS OFF TO VANCOUVER TO REPRESENT OUA IN MEN'S SOCCER
The Western Ontario Mustangs, Ranked Number Three in Canada, came into Keith Harris Stadium and knew they would have to face both the CIS Number One Ranked Carleton Ravens and the more than 500 pro Carleton fans if they were going to advance to the CIS National Championship Tournament. The match started off with both powerhouses feeling each other out as defence was the key to the first 20 minutes of play. The Ravens started to build momentum from their play and at the 33rd minute Thang Nguyen, Gloucester, Ontario found Paul Waiganjo, Ottawa, Ontario open to the right of Western’s net and Waiganjo finished his shot to put the home team up one goal. Carleton kept the pressure on Western and was able to take the goal lead into the half.
The second half belong to the visitors, as Western came out strong controlled the play especially in the midfield and won most of the battles in the air. Their persistence payed off at the 68th minute when Mike Sawchuk, London, Ontario headed home a Michel Daoust, Hunter River, PE pass to tie the match at one. The Mustangs continued to pressure Carleton, if not for goalkeeper Karl Wasslen, Ottawa, Ontario making numerous saves on shots by Western, the Ravens would have been down by at least two goals!
Late in the second half, in referee time, Western’s goalkeeper, Haidar Al Shaibani, London, Ontario kicked the ball to Daoust, in what looked like a harmless clearing, but the fourth year veteran striker turned it into the winning goal as he beat two Raven defenders and Wasslen, at approximately the 93rd minute of play to earn Western a trip to the CIS National Championship Tournament.
Western 0 2 = 2
Ravens 1 0 = 1
Goals:
1st Half:
33:00 Carleton: Waiganjo (Nguyen)
2nd Half:
68:00 Western: Sawchuk (Daoust)
90:00 Western: Daoust (Al Shaibani)
In the first OUA Semi-Final, the CIS Number Two Ranked York University Lions had all they could handle from this year’s post season Cinderella team, the Queen’s Golden Gaels. The Gaels came into the match underdogs, but proved they belonged as they played an excellent match against the OUA West Champs. Queen’s established they could compete with York as the first half was dead even, with both teams having several chances to score the match’s first goal.
In the second half the back and forth play continued until York started to build momentum at the 50th minute and they broke through the very good Queen’s defence at the 55th minute as Francesco Bruno, Toronto, Ontario, scored the lone goal of the match. The Queen’s Goalkeeper, Sean Martin-Cartwright, Kingston, Ontario kept the Golden Gaels in the game with several great saves on York shots. The Lions Ramon McIntosh, Toronto, Ontario made the saves needed to earn the shutout victory over the Golden Gaels.
York 0 1 = 1
Queen’s 0 0 = 0
Goals:
1st Half:
None
2nd Half:
55:00 York: Bruno (Ruscetta)
Sunday, November 4, 2007
11:30AM Bronze Medal Match: Carleton v Queen’s
2:00PM Gold Medal Match: York v Western
(Source: David Kent, Carleton Ravens, Sports Information)