(28/09/24) - North Bay, ON. - In an aggressive attempt by both the Queen's Gaels and Nipissing Lakers, the Queen's Men's soccer team finish their Saturday afternoon match with a 1-1 draw.  

With a total of seven fouls handed out on the turf - three for the Gaels and four for the Lakers - both teams exemplified power, perseverance, and focus in a tough head-to-head battle for a win.  

Building off a momentous sweep last weekend against the RMC Paladins, the Gaels were a force to be reckoned with for the Lakers.  Keeping consistent pressure on Lakers offense, as well as maintaining control on the ball, saving it from rolling into dangerous positions, the Gaels held off the Lakers from attempting a single scoring chance in the first half.

At 22:56, Gael's forward, no. 29, George Papadopolous (Arts and Sciences) is accredited for a goal on the Lakers net which unfortunately for the Lakers, is technically scored on their own behalf after a ball deflection rolls into the far-side post. The Lakers goalie has been noted to habitually play well-outside the goalie box, making himself a presence on the field, though the Gaels responded to this pattern with multiple attempts at the net, leading to the goal by Papadopolous in the first half. 

The second half of the match saw matched efforts from both teams exerting powerful energy on the turf and aggressive attempts to turn the game.  Unfortunately for the Gaels, the Lakers scored with just six minutes and 15 seconds left in regulation.  Gaels goalie, no. 22 Connor Adams (Arts and Sciences), just inches away from the ball marking a solid attempt to keep the score at 1-0.

With the game now tied and seven minutes of additional time added to the clock, the Gaels entered into an offensive battle with both teams putting anything they had left in them on the field in attempt to score.  With two shot attempts by the Gaels in the final minutes of the match, the end score is a draw of 1-1. 

The Gaels entered the game with a 2-4-1 record, ranking them seventh in OUA East standings.  With the tie of Saturday afternoons game, the Gaels now sit with a 2-4-2 record maintaining their position in the standings.

With the game play exhibited today, the Gaels demonstrate a stamina which could lead them to a position in the playoffs if maintained.  

The Gaels look to their next game of the weekend in a quick turnover on Sunday, September 29th, at 2:15 PM, against the Laurentian Voyageurs.  Catch the game live on OUA.TV