Lakers host rival Voyageurs in soccer playoff

The Nipissing Lakers men’s soccer team (5-6-3) is coming off it’s most successful season in team history finishing forth in the OUA East division with 18 points and has been rewarded by hosting its first home playoff match against their Northern rivals the Laurentian Voyageurs (5-8-1).

The Lakers finished the regular season with a 1-1 draw against Trent University in a meaningless game for the Lakers. The Lakers having solidified foruth place took the opportunity to provide some game experience for its bench players and also tried some different combinations on the pitch in preparation for the playoff push.

The stage is now set for the sudden-death playoff match and Lakers midfielder Mustafa Zafarzadeh expects the game to be a physical affair as both teams compete for the right to advance to the next round.

“We have to come out strong, give 110% and leave everything on the pitch,” said Zafarzadeh. “It will be an intense game and we need to be up to the challenge.”

During the regular season, both teams split their match’s with the Lakers drawing first blood stealing a 1-0 victory in Sudbury and a month later the Voyageurs responded by defeating the Lakers 2-0 at the Education Centre Field.

The playoff game will be played Wednesday beginning at 3:00 p.m. at the Education Centre Field.

Lady Lakers Finish last in the East

The Lady Lakers dropped their final match of the season 1-0 to Trent to finish in the OUA basement with a (1-10-5) regular season record.

Michelle Malandrino scored in the 92nd minute (during injury time) to give Trent the win, while Alex Pelissero made five saves to preserve the shutout.

“The same as always – we had 80 per cent of the ball possession, but couldn’t finish,” said head coach Vito Castiglione.

Nipissing keeper Sam Behm was forced to watch the game from the sidelines as she suffered a hand injury and her fill in Melissa Snedden did an admiral job making several nice saves to keep the Lady Lakers in the game.

The Lady Lakers graduating players include Julia McAvoy, Stephanie Muldoon, Hiliary Jacko, Kate St. Onge and Courtney Cherrett.

Submitted to BayToday.ca