Algoma snaps winless streak and Carleton set to face toughest tests

Toronto, Ont. (via Ben Steiner) – The end of a streak and the continuation of a perfect start. Week 3 of the OUA men’s soccer season bucked expectations, and with teams settling into their rhythm, we’re starting to understand where things stand.

However, after some unexpected results, making the standings close heading into the season’s middle portion, there might just be more than meets the eye of expectation in 2024.

Let’s get caught up on Week 3 -- the end of the beginning – while looking ahead to Week 4.

Algoma Thunderbirds snap streak, claim four points

Few teams will celebrate an early season victory with as much passion as the Algoma Thunderbirds. But, when it’s the program’s first victory since 2019, it’s well worth it. After a run of 0-37-7, the Algoma men’s soccer team snapped their winless streak of five years in Week 3, beating the Windsor Lancers 2-0.

Not only did they secure the three points and launch themselves three spots up the U SPORTS national rankings, they sealed the door shut defensively and looked dominant throughout the match. While unnerving at times, the team from Sault. St. Marie held their ground through the second half and eventually added the insurance goal to seal the win.

While the win against Windsor stands out, the second game of the weekend also saw a positive performance from the Thunderbirds, keeping a clean sheet and only forcing Bondoc to make one save in a 0-0 draw with a Brock Badgers team looking more competitive than years past.

A third year at Algoma, Bondoc might just be one of the school’s best ever athletes, considering his clean sheet in the two matches this weekend and his participation on the men’s curling team through the winter semester.

With six points through as many games, the Thunderbirds will be hard-pressed to make the playoffs. Still, their stinginess through Week 3 should give them confidence and a new baseline they can continue to build on heading into Week 4 and 5 against difficult opponents in the York Lions and McMaster Marauders.

Carleton Ravens look to maintain form in tough Toronto tests

The defending OUA champion Carleton Ravens have gotten off to a hot start with six straight wins, but they’ve got two tough tests this weekend. Brimming with youthful talent, paired with the experience from last year’s title run, the Ravens take on the TMU Bold and Toronto Varsity Blues, two in-form teams nipping at their heels in the OUA East. 

After sneaking by the Nipissing Lakers on the opening weekend with a 3-2 win, things could not have gone better for Carleton. The team is currently riding a four-match clean sheet streak and has outscored opponents 24-3.

Ousman Maheshe, who joined the Ravens after spells in the Canadian Premier League with FC Edmonton and the Halifax Wanderers, leads the group with four goals and has adjusted well in his transition from Canada West, where he played with the MacEwan Griffins.

Meanwhile, Winnipeg’s Caden Tomy has looked confident in attack as a mature rookie, in addition to continued form from Eric Yoseke, who has three goals in four starts, building off a dominant rookie campaign in 2024.

Coming up against the Varsity Blues, however, the Ravens see the lone team to outscore them in the OUA this season. They will hope to neutralize the threats of Niklas Hallam and Mehdi Essousi, the former boasting ten goals in his first six games in the OUA.

Things won’t get much more manageable in their clash with TMU, taking on multi-time OUA MVP Chris Campoli, second in conference scoring with seven goals, on a Bold team that added experienced defender Perry Zorbas to a group already boasting Colin Gander, and more CPL experience near equivalent to Carleton’s.

Should the Ravens thrive this weekend, much of it will depend on the defensive prowess they showcased through the last four games and against Ontario Tech. Bilaal Volcy, Moses Kafeero, and Seddik Sahraoui are all likely to play critical roles in front of goalkeeper Tyler David.

Carleton’s form in the regular season is unsurprising, given the program’s pedigree. Still, with two tests in Week 4, they’ve got a chance to establish themselves in a separate echelon from the rest of the OUA.