NANAIMO, B.C. - The result isn't exactly what they wanted, but the Durham Lords are proud of finishing fifth in the country at the CCAA men's soccer national championship, hosted by the VIU Mariners, this week in Nanaimo.
They capped off their four games in four days by defeating the NAIT Ooks 2-1, the same team they opened the tournament against with a 4-0 loss.
Lerenz Griffith (Pickering, Ont.) was the hero in the match, finishing the fifth-place game off with a goal in added time and only his second tally since joining Durham College this season.
His goal was needed to win the game as the Ooks evened the match in the 59th minute on a goal by Nicholas Gomes.
Durham had held the lead since the 23rd minute after Andres Murillo Marrugat (Whitby, Ont.) banked a hard shot off the side of a NAIT defender and past the keeper to score his first of the match and second of the tournament.
The victory gave the Lords a fifth-place finish at the tournament, the team's best result since winning bronze in 1999 as tournament host.
"It's an honour to be here, the story says it - it's been 20 years without coming to a national championship and to be able to come here with the team is just an incredible experience," said Marrugat.
Not only did the Lords win their first OCAA title since 1997 and appear in the their first CCAA men's soccer championship since 1999, but Bruce Cullen (Pickering, Ont.) became Durham's first All-Canadian since Trevor Delpippo in 2006.
Concluding the tournament on Saturday night, after the host VIU Mariners won the national title, Stephane Ahanda (Cameroon) was named to the championship all-star team.
The host VIU Mariners won the national championship beating the Douglas Royals 1-0 in the gold medal match.
TOURNAMENT RECAP
Nov. 8 vs. NAIT Ooks • L 4-0
Nov. 9 vs. Ahuntsic Indiens • W 4-2
Nov. 10 vs. Keyano Huskies • L 2-1
Nov. 11 vs. NAIT Ooks • W 2-1
Championship All-Star Team
Durham Lords - Stephane Ahanda
NAIT Ooks - Ali Musse
Keyano Huskies - Pedro Bianchi
Holland Hurricanes - Ibrahama Sanoh
Holland Hurricanes - James Mallard
Douglas Royals - Race Williams
Douglas Royals - Quinn Dawson
Douglas Royals - Ryo Mizuno
VIU Mariners - Chris Merriman
VIU Mariners - Ryan McCurdy
VIU Mariners - Jordan DeGraaf
MVP - VIU Mariners - Shun Takano
Source: Durham College