An action-packed season came to an end last week for the Queen’s men’s soccer team.
On Oct. 15, the Gaels faced off against the Ontario Tech University Ridgebacks in Oshawa, ON., for the first round of the OUA playoffs. It was a back-and-forth matchup with 34 shots recorded between the teams, but the Ridgebacks prevailed with a 3-2 victory.
Five minutes into the match, Tasos Golias, ArtSci ’29, highlighted a Queen’s rush that challenged the Ridgebacks, but the Gaels’ chances were cleared. In the ninth minute, Krystian Golen, ArtSci ’29, got in on the action, sending a low shot just wide of the Ridgebacks’ net.
In the 11th minute, the Gaels’ defence fought off a barrage of shots from Ontario Tech, with many crucial blocks keeping the score 0-0. The Gaels responded with chances of their own, including a strong shot from Adam Al-Hbadi, Comm ’27, that sailed right above the crossbar.
After plenty of action on both sides, Ontario Tech’s Alex Maadanian beat a Gaels defender to the ball and launched a perfect pass to Erion Metaj, who made no mistake with the finish to take the lead 30 minutes into the match.
A bad situation quickly got worse for Queen’s when Oluwatomisin Salako, ArtSci ’29, stayed down on the field for minutes after he caught a Ridgeback arm to the eye area, forcing him out of the game. And, when it rains, it pours, as Ontario Tech won a free kick on the play, and the Ridgebacks’ Christian Keshishian found the head of Noah Mossavat to take a two-goal lead.
Despite a disappointing end to the first half, the Gaels came out for the final half as a team on a mission. They put up a whopping 13 shots compared to five for the Ridgebacks. They put Ontario Tech on their toes, as the Ridgebacks took a shocking five yellow cards and 11 fouls in the second half.
64 minutes into the game, Al-Hbadi drilled a header into the goal off an attempted Ridgebacks clearance, putting the Gaels back in the game with just a one-goal deficit.
Thanks to their extremely physical play and a strong showing from Ridgebacks goalkeeper Peter Sheberstov, Ontario Tech was able to fight off a number of quality chances for Queen’s.
Of course, after a drama-filled season for the Gaels, it’s only fitting that the game ended with controversy. Queen’s entered stoppage time in desperate need of a goal and were able to produce many high-paced chances. After sending a barrage of shots towards the Ridgebacks’ end, the ball was cleared back to the Gaels’ half.
A quick one-touch kick from Queen’s goalkeeper Connor Adams, ArtSci ’26, was intercepted by the Ridgebacks near the half-line, and they quickly launched a counterattack. The ball found Ontario Tech’s Anthony Dawoud, who used a cut-back move to make space and finish on Adams, icing the game with a 3-1 lead. The problem, though, was that visible hand contact committed while Dawoud controlled the ball was left uncalled, leaving Queen’s in disbelief.
After seven minutes of added time, Cameron Cino, Comm ’28, cleaned up a Gaels free kick to cut the lead to 3-2 for his first of the season, but it came too late to change the outcome. The play was the last of the game, as the ensuing kickoff was followed swiftly by the full-time whistle.
Despite the disappointing end to the season, there were plenty of bright spots this year in head coach Kasy Kiarash’s second year at Queen’s. Last year, the team went 3-6-3 and missed the playoffs. This year, they improved to 6-5-1, thanks in part to the addition of 15 new players. The fresh team should be expected to return motivated, with plenty to build on early in their university careers.
Of course, the end of the season is bittersweet, as it marks the end of the Queen’s careers of Adams, Ian Ferguson, ArtSci ‘26, Andrea Gortana, MBA ‘26, Jadon Lashley, ArtSci ’26, and Wil Calne, ArtSci ‘26.
The key departures mean that many spots are up for grabs next year, but Gaels supporters will have to wait until next year to see what Kiarash has up his sleeve.
Tags
adam al-hbadi, cameron cino, Connor Adams, Men’s Soccer, Ontario Tech Ridgebacks
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