Bruins headed to playoffs

STORY AND PHOTOS BY DAVID PELOSI

Both of Sheridan’s soccer teams qualified for the Ontario College Athletics Association (OCAA) playoffs last week, giving them a chance to play for the championship on their home turf.

The men’s soccer team will take on the Redeemer Royals and the women will be facing the Lambton Lions, both games are scheduled for Oct. 12 at Trafalgar Campus.

The Bruins men’s soccer team solidified a playoff berth, defeating the Niagara Knights 3-1 in their final game of the season Oct. 4.  The win means the Bruins finish third in the OCAA west division standings with 19 points (6-1-1).

Earlier last week, the Bruins lost 1-0 to Fanshawe on Oct 2. The Bruins played a man short for the final 20 minutes of the match following a questionable red card that was presented to Matthew Santos who challenged Falcons goaltender Ben Goes in a race to the ball inside the penalty box. Goes jumped to make the save and collided into Santos.

Falcons forward Colin McArthur scored the late game winner on a rebound following a save from Bruins goalie Patryk Zaptoczny.

Kendrick Morales saw a goal scoring opportunity shortly after which deflected off the crossbar. The Falcons defenders would recover the ball. “We got our chances and we didn’t finish them, we didn’t get the last touch on the ball,” said Morales.

OCAA Athlete of the week and homecoming hat trick hero Nicholas Lindsay was suspended from playing in the Fanshawe game due to three yellow cards in previous matches.

In the Knights game, the Bruins won it just in time. The match was tied at 1-1 and, under pressure in the final moments of the game, David Velastegui put away a free kick to give the Bruins a 2-1 lead. A minute after that goal, Morales would score. The game ended 3-1.

The women’s soccer team had success in their final two matches of the season with back-to-back wins (5-2-1). They finished third in the OCAA west division with 16 points earning them a spot in the playoffs.

The Lady Bruins defeated Fanshawe 2-0 at home on  Oct. 1 with a pair of goals in the second half from Kayla McPherson Brassington.

The ladies defeated the Niagara Knights 1-0 on Oct. 4

Ali Palmer delivered a penalty kick at the 77^th minute mark to give the Lady Bruins the win on their last game of the season.

Sheridan’s soccer teams both earned their positions in the playoffs with potential to qualify for the OCAA Championship being held at Sheridan’s Trafalgar Campus from Oct. 25 to 26. Playoffs run from Oct. 9-13.