OTTAWA, Ont. - With their season on the line once again the the Sheridan Bruins men's soccer team (6-2-2 OCAA) delivered another strong performance and made an early second half goal stand up as the winner in a 1-0 triumph over Algonquin in the OCAA quarter-final.
"We played composed, kept to our style and were able to maintain a lot of possession," head coach Andrew Seuradge said. "We just played. We had some good chances, and Donald scored a fantastic goal."
After a first half that was marred by the appearance of several yellow cards on both sides, they score remained level at 0-0 at halftime.
It stayed that way until time was nearing the hour mark.
David Velastegui curled a corner kick into the area and when Algonquin attempted to clear it away first time, it was directed right at Donald Love who was positioned a couple paces into the box.
Love controlled it off his chest and then volleyed it into the short corner to give Sheridan the 1-0 lead.
A short while later the Double-Blue had a good opportunity to add an insurance marker when Velastegui had a go at goal from 30-yards, as his shot tried to dip down into the net, but rattled off the crossbar instead.
Alex Dukovsky also had a good chance nearing time as he was in on a partial break and tried to play the ball towards the far post from a bad angle, but the Algonquin keeper was there for the save.
Antonio Ilic did all the work necessary to preserve the clean sheet for the Bruins.
The club now advances to the OCAA semifinals - hosted by Redeemer on October 26.
Seuradge says that whomever they play - with the winner of the Humber/Fleming quarter-final still to be determined - he hopes his squad can follow the same formula they've been using in training all season.
"We want this to be like any other week," he said. "So hopefully the guys understand what's at stake and we can have a good week of practice."
Blue notes: The win gives the Bruins a second straight victory against Algonquin, having won a quarter-final, 2-0, on home turf in 2010. Prior to that Algonquin had won six straight in the match-up, with the Bruins failing to find the score sheet.
Source: Sheridan I.T.