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The difference in the standings didn’t show on the pitch for the Nipissing Lakers women’s soccer team, as they hosted the Ottawa Gee Gees Sunday afternoon.
Although they came up short on the scoreboard, losing 1-0 to the Gee Gees, the Lakers held their own against a team that now has a record of 7-1-3.
Coming off a 2-0 victory against Carleton Saturday afternoon, the Lakers hoped to build on that effort and those points and have a strong showing Sunday.
They did but were not rewarded as they could not capitalize on their chances and the Gee Gees, who have only surrendered eight goals all year, shut Nipissing down effectively for most of the game.
The Lakers’ best chances didn’t even end up counting as shots, as they fired a few opportunities wide of the net.
The lone goal of the game came from Katherine Bearne, who scored in the 14 th minute.
While Ottawa had more shots, the Lakers did a good job of neutralizing the chances in close.
Mykaela Volpe was beaten just one and finished with six saves – including a few tough ones to keep the game close.
With a weekend split, Nipissing stays in the playoff hunt, currently sitting four points behind Ryerson for the sixth and final post-season position.
A pair of road games is up next for the Lakers, as they travel to face Trent and UOIT on Thanksgiving weekend.
First up it will be Trent on Saturday, before facing the OUA’s only undefeated team Sunday on UOIT.
Both games are set for noon.
Lakers men blanked by Ravens
Less than a week after a tough loss to the Carleton Ravens, the Nipissing Lakers men’s soccer team was looking for a bit of payback.
Unfortunately, they were unable to pick up and win and the three points, as they lost 4-0 to the Ravens Saturday afternoon at Scollard Hall.
The Lakers fought and pressured but were unable to find the back of the net.
The Ravens scored three times in the first half and fired 10 shots total at Nicholas Cirullo, who made some impressive saves, despite allowing four goals.
Carleton capped off the victory and the three points with a goal in the final two minutes of the game, but the decision wasn’t in question at that time.
Nipissing generated some pressure but failed to get a clean look or clean shot on goal.
The Ravens did a good job of neutralizing the Lakers attack and forcing outside chances and shots.
Cirullo made six saves through 90 minutes, but it tagged with the loss in the stats.
With the loss, the Lakers are now in a three-way tie for the final playoff spot in the East Division, along with Trent and Ryerson.
Nipissing’s next action comes on Thanksgiving weekend when they head on the road to face Trent and UOIT.
Following those road games, the team will return home for the final four games of the season.
