Toronto upsets the Victoria Vikes

LANGLEY, B.C. (CIS) – The OUA finalist Toronto Varsity Blues built a two-goal cushion by halftime and hung on for a 2-1 upset win over the Canada West gold-medallist Victoria Vikes in the second quarter-final duel of the CIS men’s soccer championship at Trinity Western University, Thursday afternoon.

The Blues, looking for the second Sam Davidson memorial trophy in program history and their first since 1988, advance to face Quebec champion Laval in the early semifinal Friday at 4 p.m. Laval beat UPEI 3-1 in the tournament opener.

For the four-time Davidson trophy champion Vikes, the loss marked their second straight first-round exit following a Canada West title. They will battle UPEI on the consolation side Friday at 10:30 a.m.

“I can’t say enough about my players,” said Toronto coach Tom Lazarou. “They have given such a great effort all season. We put a game plan together and they followed it. They deserve all the credit today.”

“I thought we played a very good game defensively. We dealt with their long balls over the top - that was the key.”

In the tightly contested match it was the Varsity Blues who were able to take advantage of the limited scoring opportunities early on.

Nordo Gooden of Toronto opened the scoring in the 15th minute and Alexander Raphael of East York, Ont., doubled the lead in the 43rd, while Daniel LePage of Vancouver brought Victoria back to within one at the 72-minute mark.

The Varsity Blues got on the board when Darragh McGee of Donegal, Ireland, sent a nice pass down the left sideline. Gabe Gala of Brampton, Ont., took the ball and sent a cross over to Gooden who connected for the 1-0 lead.

A few minutes later, Gooden nearly had his second marker but his shot struck the post to keep it a one-goal game.

In the 43rd minute, Raphael collected the ball in the box during a scramble and Toronto had itself a two-goal cushion going into the half.

The Vikes made several substitutions at the break and generated a lot more offence in the second frame.

Their efforts were rewarded in the 72nd minute. Kyle Kostis of Calgary had the ball down the right sideline, and sent it into the box. All-Canadian Cole McFarlane, also of Calgary, sent a touch across to LePage, who was named UVic player of the game.

Victoria nearly tied the affair in the final five minutes as LePage sent a shot on the Toronto goal. But keeper John Smits of Mississauga, Ont., got a hand on the ball, sending it upwards where it struck the crossbar.

SCORING SUMMARY

Toronto: 2-0:0
Victoria: 0-1:1

First Half
1. Toronto, Nordo Gooden (1) (Gabe Gala), 15th
2. Toronto, Alexander Raphael (1), 43rd

Second Half
3. Victoria, Daniel LePage (1) (Cole McFarlane, Kyle Kostis), 72nd

Goalkeepers:
Toronto: John Smits (W, 1 GA, 1 saves, 90:00 mins)
Victoria: Daniel Kilpatrick (L, 2 GA, 2 saves, 90:00 mins)

Shots: Toronto 7, Victoria 3
Shots on Net: Toronto 4, Victoria 2
Corners: Toronto 4, Victoria 5
Offsides: Toronto 0, Victoria 2
Fouls: Toronto 21, Victoria 14
Yellow Cards: Toronto: (Alexander Raphael, 72nd)
Red Cards: none

CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE & RESULTS (all times PACIFIC TIME)

Thursday, Nov. 12
Quarter-final 1: Laval 3, UPEI 1
Quarter-final 2: Toronto 2, Victoria 1
15:30 Quarter-final 3: McMaster vs. McGill (SSN Canada webcast)
18:30 Quarter-final 4: Cape Breton vs. Trinity Western (SSN Canada webcast)

Friday, Nov. 13
10:30 Consolation 1: UPEI vs. Victoria
13:00 Consolation 2: Loser QF 3 vs. Loser QF 4
16:00 Semifinal 1: Laval vs. Toronto (SSN Canada webcast)
18:30 Semifinal 2: Winner QF 3 vs. Winner QF 4 (SSN Canada webcast)

Saturday, Nov. 14
13:00 Consolation final (5th-place match)

Sunday, Nov. 15
13:00 Bronze medal (SSN Canada webcast)
15:30 Championship final (SSN Canada webcast)

- CIS -

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