Banner Season: Ravens soar to OUA championship with comeback win over Lions

Graphic on predominantly blue background feature banner photo of Carleton men's soccer team, with large white text that reads 'Champions' and the OUA Men?s Soccer Championship logo underneath them
November 4, 2023

Ottawa, Ont. (via Carleton Ravens) - The Carleton Ravens men's soccer team are 2023 OUA champions following a 3-1 win over the York Lions.

The Carleton Ravens fell behind early in the first half as Tyler Attardo landed a flying boot on a cross into the box to put the Lions ahead 1-0. The Ravens would tie the game before the end of the half when Luca Piccioli unloaded a 34-yard free-kick to even the contest before the half.

The Ravens took over the match in the second half, carrying much of the play while looking for a go-ahead goal. The Ravens patience would pay off in the 67th minute as Omar Darwish found a loose ball in the box and placed it behind the Lions keeper.

With the Ravens ahead 2-1, Piccioli would step up again to score a mind-blowing brace that sent the raucous crowd at TAAG Park into a frenzy. As Mohamed Bouzidi worked his way up the sidelines Piccioli cut into space receiving the pass in the box before dancing around a Lions defender and the keeper for his second of the match.

The victory marks the Ravens' fourth OUA Championship and first since 2019. Carleton will now enter the U SPORTS Championships as a top seed when the brackets are announced on Sunday afternoon.