Both Queen’s Soccer teams were able to secure points this past weekend.
The Women’s Soccer team picked up three points by defeating the Laurentian Voyageurs by a score of 2-0, while the Men’s Soccer team gained one point by drawing 0-0 with the Voyageurs. Both games were played at Richardson Stadium on Sept. 27.
READ MORE: Gaels soccer has mixed-bagged weekend
First up on the doubleheader slate was the women’s team, who were looking to keep their momentum going after a 4-1 win against the Royal Military College Paladins last weekend.
The Gaels came out strong, applying early pressure to the Voyageurs by playing faster and more physical. After several scoring chances, the team eventually capitalized in the 20th minute when Meghan McDonald, ArtSci ’30, tapped in a goal on the right side of the net to put Queen’s ahead.
Shortly after, the Gaels would add to their lead. At the 28th minute, Evelyn McCabe, ArtSci ’30, headed in a throw in from Marra Stanistreet, ArtSci ’29, to double the team’s lead.
The team continued to apply pressure for the rest of the half, including firing one off the crossbar, but went into halftime up 2-0.
Despite seeing no goals, the second half was arguably more dominant for the Gaels. The team spent most of the half in the Voyageurs’ end while allowing no counter attacks to Laurentian. Queen’s also had a penalty kick at the 87th minute, but the subsequent kick was saved by the Laurentian goalie.
“I thought in our defensive third and our midfield third we were really good,” Head Coach of the women’s team Dave McDowell said in an interview with The Journal after the game. “A lot of great ideas in our offensive third as well.”
The shutout victory continues a strong defensive showing for the Gaels this year, as they have limited their opponents to one goal or fewer in every contest this season besides one 4-0 loss to the first-place Ottawa GeeGees on Sept. 18.
“I think that is where we’re at our least young”, McDowell said on his team’s defensive core, as the forward and midfield group is mainly comprised of first and second years. “They’ve done a great job of leading and helping mentor some of this very young group.”
The victory gives the Gaels a 4-2-2 record, good for 14 points and fourth in the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) standings.
Right after the women’s game had concluded, the men’s team took on the Voyageurs, also looking to build on a 1-0 win against the Paladins last weekend.
After an even start to the game, Queen’s got several dangerous scoring chances from inside the box, requiring the Laurentian goalie to make some key saves. Despite some more scoring chances for the Gaels, they were unable to capitalize and went into halftime in a scoreless tie.
Like the first half, neither team was able to capitalize on their chances in the second half despite several for both sides. The Gaels’ goaltender, Daniel Clarke, ArtSci ’27, made a huge diving save at the 88th minute to keep the game scoreless.
The game got physical in the final minutes, with the teams getting into an altercation after a tackle from a Voyageurs’ player. However, the match concluded in a 0-0 draw.
“I think we showed some parts of organization,” Shane Beharry, assistant coach to both the men’s and women’s teams, said after the game’s conclusion in an interview with The Journal. “I think we play pretty well, just need to finish our chances.”
The draw gives the Men’s Soccer team a 2-3-2 record and 8 points, which puts them seventh in the OUA standings out of nine teams. However, Beharry believes that the team is finally getting fully healthy and will soon “fire on all cylinders.”
“I think overall it hasn’t been the best season, but it hasn’t been the worst season. I think building consistency with players and health wise will go a long way,” he said. “Just build consistency, good habits, positive play, and hopefully finish our chances and get the results.”
Queen’s Soccer will hit the road for the next couple of games. Both teams will play the Nipissing Lakers in North Bay on Oct. 3 before rematching the Voyageurs a day later in Sudbury on Oct. 4. The women’s team will play each game at 12 p.m., while the men’s team will play each match at 2:15 p.m.
Tags
OUA, Queen's men's soccer, Woman's Soccer
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