Playoff prep

Home quarter-final match upcoming

The Gaels have held their opponents to one goal or less in every regular season game.
Image by: Ali Zahid
The Gaels have held their opponents to one goal or less in every regular season game.

The men’s soccer team closed out their 11-1-2 season with a dominant 4-1 win over the Trent Excalibur on Sunday.

Queen’s will now host an OUA quarter-final on Oct. 28 against the East Division’s lowest remaining seed.

First-year midfielder Andrew Martin opened the scoring against Trent in the 14th minute, finishing into an open net after Nathan Klemencic’s pass beat the outstretched goalkeeper.

Martin also added an assist in his inaugural start as a Gael.

Head coach Chris Gencarelli said Martin was phenomenal.

“He was really receptive to our feedback through the entire week to prepare himself for today. I’m very impressed with him,” he said.

Trent responded seven minutes after Martin’s tally with one of their own, when Dylan Tobey capitalized on a costly rebound, chipping Gaels backup goalkeeper Max Materne.

The game dynamic changed in the 27th minute, when Excalibur defender Hamish McPherson was sent off with a straight red card for taking Klemencic down on a breakaway.

When Martin had an opportunity to put the Gaels ahead on a breakaway, his chip-shot beat the Trent goalkeeper but hit the crossbar.

After Joe Zupo’s header hit the post on a corner, David Tom eventually put the Gaels up 2-1, burying the rebound into the bottom-right corner.

Gencarelli commended Trent for their play in the first half.

“They were well prepared,” he said. “They didn’t have much to play for, but they came out really strong.”

The second half was all Queen’s, with Lucas Lobo scoring two left-footed goals into the top-left and bottom-right corners of the net.

“We had a much better second half,” Gencarelli said. “They were down to 10 men, but I was pleased we were able to capitalize on our scoring opportunities.”

With the final game of the regular season under their belts, the Gaels will face either Toronto, Nipissing or Laurentian in the quarter-final.

No matter who they’re up against, Gencarelli said the team will be ready come Sunday.

“The guys know that it’s a new season starting Tuesday in training,” he said. “Ultimately, we’ve achieved our season goal [of securing a first-round bye], but our long-term goal is making sure we get to that final-four championship.”

“We’ve got to win that first home playoff game.”

Tags

Gaels, Lobo, Men’s Soccer, Trent

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