CAMBRIAN UPSETS SHERIDAN IN THRILLING 3-2 PENALTY KICK WIN
|
TEAMS |
1st |
2nd |
Final |
Scorers |
Player of the Game |
|
Cambrian |
1 |
2 |
3 |
#9 – Marcello Tantalo – 7' #9 – Marcello Tantalo – 115' |
#1 Evan Phillips |
|
Sheridan BRUINS |
1 |
1 |
2 |
#13 – Sheldon Rogers – 35' |
#6 Manuel Morgado |
ETOBICOKE, ON: Sheridan Bruins, the defending CCAA National Champions, will look to return to the big dance this year but will have to start their trek with a win over Sudbury's Cambrian Golden Shield.
Sheridan advanced directly to the Final Eight Championships by way of their second place finish in the Central Division, while the Shield needed a 2-0 crossover win over Redeemer.
It was the Cambrian squad that burst out of the gate in this game, with Marcello Tantalo burying the first goal of the game at the seven minute mark.
Both teams shared field advantage through the first thirty five minutes, but then it was the Bruins turn to change the game. Sheldon Rogers scored at the 35 minute mark to knot the game at one.
The second half of the game had both teams exchanging chances but unable to capitalize. Sheridan had a free kick glance off the crossbar and then seconds later, Cambrian's Tantalo narrowly missed his second goal of the match but the Bruin's goalkeeper made a fantastic save.
As the match continued, so did the swirling winds. The elements allowed no room for mistakes and each team seemed to play more cautiously as time ticked away.
Just before the 70th minute, Bruin defender Nikal Clarke-Smith was issued a caution that gave the Golden Shield a free kick just beyond the 18-yard box. Richard John, second on Cambrian in scoring, took the free kick but missed the net wide.
For the second time during the quarter-final stage, a match needed extra time to find a winner. The Bruins pressured early on and were rewarded a penalty kick after Joshua Persaud was tackled from behind. Manuel Morgado was tasked to take the shot for Sheridan and beat Cambrian's Evan Phillips to take a 2-1 lead.
With time running out and the Cambrian Golden Shield desperately searching for the equalizer, Marcelo Tantalo came through once again. Nicholas Walker launched a free kick from his own end that went passed every Bruin defender, leaving Tantalo all alone to tie the game.
Extra time was not enough for these two teams and penalty kicks were needed. Trailing early in the shootout, Cambrian rallied to convert four straight kicks, including one from goalkeeper Evan Phillips and the Golden Shield completed the improbable upset over the reigning national champions.
Cambrian will now play tomorrow in the championship semi-finals at 6:00 pm against the Algonquin Thunder. Sheridan will head to the consolation semi-finals tomorrow at 12:30 pm to play University of Toronto – Mississauga Eagles.
Evan Phillips (Cambrian) and Manuel Morgado (Sheridan) were each named players of the game.
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