LANGLEY, B.C. (CIS) – The University of Toronto Varsity Blues fell 2-1 in penalty kicks (4-2) to finish fourth at the 2009 CIS men’s soccer championship at Trinity Western University in Langley, B.C.
Trinity Western University keeper Andrew Kowan from Richmond, B.C., made a diving penalty kick save and defender Cardin Davis from Salt Spring Island, B.C. hit the penalty kick winner as the Spartans won the second CIS bronze medal in program history.
The win gives the Spartans four CIS championship medals in the last five years. TWU also won bronze in 2005 and silver in 2008 and 2006.
The first half was physically played with each team having opportunities, but neither was able to find the back of the net as they finished the opening 45 minutes tied at 0-0.
Trinity Western’s career goal scoring leader Nathan Pogue of Seaside, Ore. opened the scoring in the 63rd minute. The Spartans were rewarded after sustained pressure inside the Varsity Blues penalty area. Toronto keeper Maximir Luburic of Oakville, Ont. made a two handed save on TWU’s Jordan Whitehead (Surrey, B.C.) point-blank shot from the left side of the box but the ball went to Pogue who was on the right side of the goal area. Pogue hit the ball hard through a number of Toronto defenders to put TWU up 1-0.
Toronto tied the match in the 80th minute after a strong run up the right side by midfielder Geoffrey Borgmann of Dixie, Ont. Borgmann beat TWU’s outside back and sent a cross to the far side of the penalty area where Alexander Raphael of East York, Ont. went high to head the ball past a diving Kowan to tie the match at 1-1.
Both teams battled back and forth for the remainder of the half with no one finding the back of the net.
In the CIS championship bronze medal match the teams go straight to penalty kicks.
The Varsity Blues opened the penalty kicks with Gabe Gala of Brampton, Ont. missing high. TWU’s Pogue, Toronto’s Borgmann and TWU’s Paul Hamilton of Calgary each made their attempts to give the Spartans a 2-1 lead after four shooters.
On Toronto’s next attempt by Raphael, Trinity Western’s Kowan, who was an all-star at last year’s championship, made a diving save to his right, teammate Shawn Parkes of Delta, B.C. followed with a goal to give TWU a 3-1 lead. Toronto’s Nordo Gooden (Toronto) hit his shot to keep Toronto alive, but the TWU’s Davis found the lower left corner to give the win in front of the home town crowd.
TWU’s Kowan made one save in victory, while Toronto’s Luburic made eight saves in the loss.
SCORING SUMMARY
TWU: 0-1-1:2 (4-2 PK)
TOR 0-1-0:1
First half
No scoring
Second half
1. TWU, Nathan Pogue (2) (Jordan Whitehead), 63rd
2. TOR, Alexander Raphael (2) (Geoffrey Borgmann), 80th
Overtime (no OT – straight to PK)
Penalty kicks
TOR, Gabe Gala, miss
TWU, Nathan Pogue, goal
TOR, Geoffrey Borgmann, goal
TWU, Paul Hamilton goal
TOR, Alexander Raphael, saved
TWU, Shawn Parkes, goal
TOR, Nordo Gooden, goal
TWU, Cardin Davis, goal
Goalkeepers:
TWU: Andrew Kowan (W, 1 GA, 1 saves, 90:00 mins)
TOR: Maximir Luburic (W, 1 GA, 8 saves, 90:00 mins)
Shots: TWU 27, TOR 8
Shots on goal: TWU 9, TOR 2
Corners: TWU 9, TOR 1
Offsides: TWU 2, TOR 2
Fouls: TWU 15, TOR 11
Yellow Cards: TWU (2) (Brayden Volkenant 18th, Liam McAllister 51st), TOR (2) (Federico Vaccaro 27th, Gabe Gala 82nd)
Red Cards: none
Players of the game:
TWU: Nathan Square-Briggs
TOR: Maximir Luduric
CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE & RESULTS (all times PACIFIC TIME)
Thursday, Nov. 12
Quarter-final 1: Laval 3, UPEI 1
Quarter-final 2: Toronto 2, Victoria 1
Quarter-final 3: McGill 1, McMaster 0 (10-9 PK)
Quarter-final 4: Trinity Western 2, Cape Breton 0
Friday, Nov. 13
Consolation 1: Victoria 6, UPEI 2
Consolation 2: Cape Breton 4, McMaster 1
Semifinal 1: Laval 3, Toronto 0
Semifinal 2: McGill 2, Trinity Western 1 (5-4 PK)
Saturday, Nov. 14
Consolation final (5th-place match): Victoria 3 vs. Cape Breton 2
Sunday, Nov. 15
Bronze medal: Trinity Western 2, Toronto 1 (4-2 PK)
15:30 Championship final: Laval vs. McGill (SSN Canada webcast)
SOURCE - Trinity Western University sports information
