Lakers men’s soccer celebrate big win

The Nipissing Lakers men’s soccer team enjoyed a fantastic weekend, earning four points in game action, including an enormous win over the University of Toronto Blues. The women’s team, meanwhile, earned a tie against Ryerson and was defeated by UofT.Men’s GamesLakers 0 Ryerson 0It has been said many times by many coaches – offence wins games, defence wins championships.
The Nipissing Lakers men’s soccer squad has made a commitment to team defence and preach patience on offence; so far in this young OUA season this philosophy seems to working. The Lakers are off to a solid 1-1-2 start and managed a 0-0 draw against the Ryerson Rams, who sit in second place in the OUA East division with a record of 2-1-2.
The Lakers sit in fifth place, only three points separate the Lakers from the second place Rams.
The game itself was a defensive battle with neither team really having any great chances until the end of the first half. The Lakers best chance came when forward Ryan Mantle collected a loose ball off a corner kick, turned and fired a hard shot that rang off the post and was quickly cleared by the Rams defence. The Rams would find their best chance moments later, but Lakers keeper Andrew Richard made a nice save to end the first half with the score remaining 0-0.
The second half saw Ryerson maintain possession, however, the defence kept the shooters mainly to the outside.
Richard needed to make some solid saves in the second half as the Rams pressed for the go ahead goal but at last no team could find the mesh and the game ended 0-0.Lakers 2 UofT 1
The Nipissing Lakers showed their fans and opponents this weekend that this team is for real.
This weekend’s match-ups were formidable tests for the Lakers and they passed with flying colours, taking down the mighty Toronto Blues 2-1 to jump up the OUA East standings. With the win, the Lakers improve to 2-1-2 and sit third in the East division while Toronto drops to 2-3-0, good for fifth place.
The Lakers Ryan Mantle, a second year forward form Orangeville, opened the scoring in the 19th minute as he was able to penetrate the Toronto defence on a well struck through ball and fired a shot that was partially stopped by the keeper. The ball, however, found its way past the line.
Toronto would get a solid chance when a bouncing ball found Chris Manella who then bicycle kicked it off the cross bar before it was cleared by the Lakers defence. The Blues would find the back of the net shortly after this as they were awarded a corner kick which resulted in a bouncing ball that was neatly collected by a Toronto forward and passed to Dylan Bams who was left unmarked.
Both teams would get some quality chances before half, however, no one could find the mark.
The second half proved to be very entertaining as both teams would see some quality scoring chances that were negated by the defence, goal keepers and goal posts.
It was not until the 63rd minute that the deadlock was broken when Mantle crossed a ball to North Bay native Jean-Michel Paulin who beat his man and placed a one-touch ball in the back of the mesh while in mid-air to score the highlight reel goal.
The final five minutes had fans on the edge of their seats as Toronto applied some serious pressure for the equalizer. Toronto's best chance would come with only two minutes remaining as they worked the ball down field and struck a nice cross that was collected and fired and rang off the cross bar. The Lakers defence would stay strong the rest of way as the final whistle blew.
The Lakers will savour the victory before getting back to work as they prepare for their road trip to Queen’s and RMC this weekend.Women’s GamesLakers 2 Ryerson 2
The Nipissing Lady Lakers found themselves down two goals with only fifteen minutes remaining in the game before second year striker Erica Dixon found the mesh twice in a nine minute span, allowing the Lakers to salvage an important point in a 2-2 draw against the visiting Ryerson Rams.
The Lakers got off to a strong start and created some nice chances early in the first half.  As the half wore on, however, the Rams gained some momentum off of a few defensive miscues by the home team. The Rams managed to penetrate the Lakers defence several times but Lakers keeper Kelly Dunk was a force, stopping multiple opportunities.
The Rams would score first as Arianne Authier-Henry and Dunk raced to a ball in the 18 yard box. It appeared that Dunk had control of the ball; however, contact with Authier-Henry resulted in a loose ball that she was able to then collect and put in an empty net. The first half ended with Ryerson up 1-0.
The Rams Authier-Henry added her second goal of the game in the 72nd minute when she was set free off of a quick counter attack.
Dunk took the Lakers on her shoulders from this point on as the team pressed for some offence while she made one spectacular save after another.
The Lakers fortunes finally changed in the 76th minute when Dixon made a nice run down the left flank and was able to beat the Rams keeper. With time winding down, the Lakers completed the comeback when Dixon shook off her defender and beat her in a race for a loose ball tucking a nice low shot past the keeper to even the contest.
The draw moves the Lakers to 0-3-2 on the season while Ryerson sits at 1-4-1, two points ahead of the Lakers. The Rams, however,  have played one more game.Lakers 1 UofT 3
The Nipissing Lady Lakers soccer team built a 1-0 lead at half time before Toronto scored three unanswered goals to claim the 3-1 victory over the home team.
It was the start the Lakers were looking for as second year midfielder Stefanie Giftopoulos was sent in early on a through ball but was barely beat by the Toronto keeper in a race for the ball. This was a good sign for the offence as they were able to generate some chance early.
Toronto would have their own share of early chances as a few Toronto players were able to penetrate the Lakers defence. Lakers keeper Kelly Dunk was solid early challenging the shooters and saving some tough shots in close.
Giftopoulos would once again find herself the recipient of a through ball, but this time there was no race and she found herself with time and space and made no mistake firing a low shot to left corner past the outstretched Toronto keeper.
Both teams would exchange some chances while both keepers would stand their ground and the Lakers would take a 1-0 into half.
Toronto would equal the contest early in the second half as Lashaunna Harper carried a through ball and tucked it passed a helpless Dunk. This goal seemed to turn the tide as Toronto gained some momentum and carried the play and possession for most of the second half.
Toronto would go ahead for good when a corner kick was cleared by the Lakers defence. However, a quick counter attack and pass found the feet of Jessica Fantozzi who made no mistake. Fantozzi would add her second goal of the game in the 92nd minute as the Lakers pressed for the equalizer and she found herself all alone off a quick counter attack.
The Lady Lakers drop to 0-4-2 while Toronto improves to 3-1-2 on the season.
The Lakers will hit the road next weekend as the team travels to take on Queen’s and RMC.