Lakers kick season off with road victories

The Nipissing University Lakers soccer squads kicked off the OUA soccer season in style with a pair of road victories over the Trent Excalibur in Peterborough.The women’s team hit the pitch first and it was forth-year midfielder, Sara Dorval, who notched her first goal of the season to open the scoring at the 26 minute mark. Rookie striker, Caroline Kovacs, made an immediate impact by scoring her first OUA goal at the 33 minute mark. The first half would end with the Lakers leading 2-0.
Trent would get one back early in the second half as Sydney Soares found the back of the mesh to bring the Excalibur within a goal. The score would remain the same until the 85th minute when Kovacs potted her second of the day, sealing the victory for the Lakers. Rookie goalie Carlie Bennard also notched her first victory in her OUA debut.
On the men’s side the Lakers were looking to build upon a successful 2012/13 campaign and the vets led the way offensively as the Lakers shutout the Trent Excalibur 2-0 for the important road victory.
Second-year midfielder Jean-Michel Paulin opened the scoring for the Lakers as he tallied his first of the season in the 35th minute. The first half would end with the Lakers holding a narrow 1-0 edge.
The second half was much of the same as the Lakers defensive core was solid, limiting the Excalibur to only five shots on net during the entire match. In the 52nd minute, third-year forward Ryan Mantle put the game out-of-reach scoring the second goal of the game.
Rookie goaltender Andrew Reddick received the shutout victory in his OUA debut.