Women’s Soccer
The Lakers faced the Toronto Varsity Blues and Ryerson Rams as they embarked on their 2017 OUA season, dropping the season opener before picking up a tie on Sunday.
The Nipissing Lakers women’s soccer team was able to salvage one point on their season opening road trip in Toronto this past weekend.
Nipissing struck first against Toronto on Saturday as Andrea Young found the back of the net in the sixth minute to put the Lakers up to a quick 1-0 advantage.
The lead last just over 20 minutes before Toronto tied things up just before the 30-minute mark of the game.
The teams headed to halftime even, but in the second half, the Varsity Blues took control of the game.
Toronto scored twice in the second half, with the game-winner coming at the 56-minute mark and the insurance marker coming in the final five minutes of the game.
Nipissing dropped the opener by a final of 3-1, with Young the sole goal scorer and goalkeeper Mykaela Volpe finishing with six saves.
Sunday, the Lakers looked to earn a weekend split and valuable early season points. A strong effort did not produce the full three points, but the Lakers were pleased to show something for their efforts.
After going down 1-0, 24 minutes into the game, the Lakers responded 15 minutes later from the penalty spot, as Delaney Borsato converted.
The teams played even the rest of the way and each earned a single point.
Rookie Jess Moran made four saves for the tie, as Nipissing outshot Ryerson 6-5.
The Lakers will continue their season on the road, as the team heads to Kingston for a pair of games next weekend, facing RMC Saturday, and Queen’s Sunday.
Men’s Soccer
The Lakers men’s soccer team dropped a pair of games, falling to both the Toronto Varsity Blues Saturday and the Ryerson Rams, Sunday in Toronto.
After an influx of new recruits, a new mindset and new hope, the Nipissing Lakers men’s soccer team didn’t get off to the start they wanted to on the road.
Saturday, the Lakers played a strong Blues squad very well but fell a goal short.
Toronto would open the scoring just before the halftime whistle, taking the lead at the 40-minute mark.
Neither team would find the back of the net until late in the game when the teams traded goals.
Andy Bago tied the game up at one with a goal in the 81st minute, but Toronto replied almost immediately, regaining their one goal cushion.
From there, they held on and earned the full three points, handing Nipissing a loss in their season opener.
The Blues outshot the Lakers 12-5, as Achuthan Shanmugaratnam was very strong in net, keeping the Lakers in the game early and giving them a chance to win in the end.
On Sunday, Nipissing struggled to keep pace with a strong Ryerson Rams team, as the Lakers fell 4-0 to wrap up the opening weekend of the year.
Ryerson scored twice in the first 15 minutes, added another before the half-hour mark and capped off the scoring in the 90th minute with their fourth tally of the game.
Nipissing is not pleased with the start to their season and will look to improve as they head back on the road, this time to Kingston to take on RMC Saturday, and Queen’s on Sunday.
(With files from Nipissing Athletics)
