OSHAWA, Ont – The Durham Lords men's soccer team opened their season with a 0-0 tie in their home opener and gold-medal rematch versus the Algonquin Thunder.
 
Lucas Blain had the first chance of the game in the sixth minute for the Thunder, but Lords goalkeeper Kevon Grant (Oshawa, Ont.) made a nice one-handed save.
 
Moments later, Durham thought they had the lead after Jeremy Bangala (Pickering, Ont) put the ball in the back of the net only to have it called offside.
 
Algonquin then had a goal of their own called offside in the 29^th minute.
 
From there, the Lords continued to dominate when Nate Paine (Whitby, Ont.) saw his curling effort go just wide of the top corner, but Algonquin offered up one more attack just before halftime when Blain went one-on-one with Grant, but the Lords' keeper came out on top once again.
 
The Lords led 7-3 in shots at the scoreless break.
 
Paine had another great chance in the 52^nd minute as he tried to slide the ball under the keeper but a sprawling Thunder goalie made a great save.
 
The game continued to be open in the dying moments. A nice counter attack from the Lords in the 92^nd minute saw J'Mar Williams (Brampton, Ont.) narrowly miss the target in what could have been a winner for the defending champions.
 
After 90 minutes Algonquin out-shot Durham 12-9, but neither side was able to find the break through as the game finished scoreless.
 
The Lords now travel to face the St. Lawrence Vikings on Friday, Sept. 14 at 8:15 p.m.
 

QUICK LOOK AT THE LORDS

Overall Record: 1-3-1 (W-L-D)
Conference Record: 0-0-1
 
Next match: Friday, Sept. 14 vs. St. Lawrence Vikings (8:15 p.m. – Kingston, Ont.)

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