MSOC | Voyageurs Can Not Keep Pace With Ridgebacks

The men's soccer team battled the Ontario Tech Ridgebacks on Sunday afternoon in what was a very spirited and action-packed affair.  Unfortunately, the Ridgebacks managed to pull away in the second half and took the game 6-2.

The Voyageurs got off to a great start as, just six minutes in, Timi Aliu slotted the ball past the Ontario Tech keeper, Kevon Grant, to give Laurentian an early lead.  The Ridgebacks equaled things in the 24th minute on a penalty kick and then took the lead just three minutes later when Noah Laronde Was sent through alone on Lucas Cidade and made no mistake.  Aliu pulled the Voyageurs back level in the 33rd minute when Giancarlo Galluzzo flicked the clearance on and sprung Aliu past the back line, who ripped a shot past Grant to send the teams into the halftime break knotted at two.

The second half continued much like the first half ended; as a high-intensity battle with chances both ways.  That is, until the 54th and 65th minutes, when a pair of clumsy challenges by the Voyageurs in the box led to two Ridgebacks penalty kicks and the OUA's leading goal scorer, Omar Marzouk, buried both of them to give the Ridgebacks a 4-2 lead.  The Voyageurs continued to battle but when Cidade was sent off in the 72nd minute for his second yellow, forcing the Voyageurs to play with just 10 men, the mountain became to big to climb.  Ontario Tech would add two more late goals to close out the 6-2 scoreline.

The Voyageurs are back in action on Saturday at 2:15pm when they host the Nipissing Lakers for the Riley Gallo Cup and the opening legs of the 705 Challenge Cup.