After a disappointing loss on Friday night the Cavaliers Men’s Soccer team bounced back with a convincing 3-1 against 1st place Garneau. With the win the Cavaliers moved into a tie for 1st place in RSEQ standings with a game in hand.
The Cavaliers who had a thin squad heading up to Quebec City won by putting in an all-around stellar performance. Each player contributed and the team showed the type of game they are capable of playing.
In just the 5th minute Champlain were awarded a penalty kick when veteran forward Alexandre Garceau was taken down in the box. Veteran Mamadi Camara scored the penalty kick to give his team the lead. The Cavaliers pressed on and looked to break through the opposition’s defence. The game went back and forth early and the Cavaliers were opened up in the 23rd minute of play on a ball that was served from deep and met in the box by a Garneau player. Rookie goalkeeper Bruce Seguin was left in no mans land after a mis-communication between him and his defenders. He was left to his own devices and clipped the player, the referee awarded the home team with a penalty kick. Garneau made no mistake and welcomed the spot-kick tying the game at 1-1.
Champlain soon rebounded and orchestrated a well timed corner-kick when rookie Mike Romito swung in a curling ball that was met by rookie midfielder Charles De Santis‘ head for the 2-1 lead. The Cavaliers made adjustments to their tactics and tightened things up. They took the game to Garneau in the second half and smothered them with their defense. Seguin redeemed his earlier error and made a series of outstanding saves to maintain his teams lead. Champlain made some substitutions in the second half bringing on fresh legs and keeping the tempo of the game very high. It was too much for the home team to handle. Veteran winger Charles Carrier-Cote rounded his defender only to be taken down from behind just before the edge of the 18 yard box. Veteran Felipe Ramirez who stepped into his first minutes of the season setup for the free-kick. Ramirez curled in a picture perfect free-kick in the 77th minute to the top far corner and ice the game at 3-1. The Cavaliers closed up shop and moved into a first place tie.
The “Hard-Hat” performer of the game was rookie Charles De Santis. His steady play in the heart of the team’s midfield has provided the team again with stability and grit.
The “Player of the Game” was goalkeeper Bruce Seguin whose sequence of big saves kept his team ahead and helped propel them to the win.
The Cavaliers play next against Dawson College in a re-play of the first game of the season that was called off due to a lightning storm. Kickoff is set for 7:30pm at Seaway Park.
