MSOC | Voyageurs Victorious in Spirited Battle with Gaels

Coming off a strong team win over the RMC Paladins, the Voyageurs men's soccer team were looking to carry the momentum into their match against the Queen's Gaels. In a very spirited and at times chippy contest, the Voyageurs pulled victory from the grips of defeat to win 2-1.

The game started off with high intensity from the opening whistle and it didn't take long before the cards were brought out. The Voyageurs' Zef Kraja was shown a yellow in the 13th minute and just two minutes later, Queen's Kevin Mastri got a yellow card of his own. Just ten minutes after seeing his first yellow, Kraja followed that up with his second of the game, putting the Voyageurs down to 10 men after just 23 minutes. Up a man, the Gaels tried to push the issue, firing five shots on goal in the opening half, but OUA saves leader, Connor Vande Weghe, was equal to each and every one of them, preserving the tie into half.

The second half started with the Gaels pushing once again and in the 60th minute, finally converted. A low cross was sent into the box and as Vande Weghe came out to cut it off, a Voyageurs defender knocked the ball down, leaving the keeper out of position and the Gaels', Jacob Schroeter, with an empty net. That goal seemed to spark the Voyageurs out of their defensive lull and in the 65th minute they equalized. Dean Pizolinas sent his corner in that ricocheted off the post and the goalkeeper before bouncing around the six yard box where Liam Ezzard literally ran the ball across the line to make it 1-1.

Now on equal terms, despite being down a man, the Voyageurs upped their intensity and the Gaels aided them in that fact when Schroeter was shown a straight red card for a tackle on Vande Weghe in the 70th minute. Just three minutes after both teams were reduced to ten men, the Voyageurs had a long throw into the six yard box that Queen's goalkeeper, Alex Dimock, spilled and Ezzard was there to score his brace. Vande Weghe shut the door from then on and the Voyageurs overcame the adversity with a 2-1 victory.

The men will now head to Ottawa next Saturday, September 23rd to face the Carleton Ravens.