OAKVILLE, Ont. - They began their final home game of the regular season firmly entrenched in the driver's seat of the OCAA West, but by the time the final whistle had blown - after conceding an 87th minute goal - the Sheridan Bruins men's soccer team (6-1-1 OCAA) no longer have the luxury of controlling how high in the table they can finish, after a 1-0 defeat to Fanshawe.
"We didn't play up to our potential today," Sheridan head coach Andrew Seuradge said. "We didn't move the ball, we didn't pass it well, we were a little too lackadaisical and we just had no intensity."
Neither side was able to put together any real dangerous attacks in the opening half, but the proceedings took a turn just after the hour when Mathew Santos was sent off.
Trying to track down a ball on the left wing inside the Fanshawe 18-yard box, he collided with the Fanshawe keeper, was whistled for the foul and shown a straight red card.
Despite playing down a man, the Double-Blue were still able to string together a couple of scoring chances.
First was a free kick from 35 yards out, with David Velastegui curling the ball into the area. Kendrick Morales was able to re-direct the ball on target, but didn't get enough on it to finish emphatically and it was deflected off the woodwork and then cleared away.
Fanshawe would make the Bruins pay a short time later with a cross off the right side being played from a dangerous location, about eight yards from goal, square on target.
Patryk Zaptoczny was there for the save, but the rebound deflected right to an unmarked Colin McArthur who got just enough on it - despite Zapotczny scrambling to get a piece of the strike - to provide the difference.
Sheridan had one solid opportunity nearing the death, after Chris Divizio-Mendes was fouled on the doorstep of the 18-yard box.
With timing preciously against them, Velastegui wanted to make sure his free kick didn't get hung up on the Fanshawe wall, but it sailed over the bar instead.
The club now has a little less than 48 hours to shake off the result, re-group and try to finish strong on the road at Niagara.
Source: Sheridan College