Mason Bugaresti
OTTAWA - The Carleton Ravens men’s soccer team lost for the first time in the 2022 season, dropping Friday’s match 2-0 to the Ontario Tech Ridgebacks.
The first half hour of this match was a strategic defensive showdown between Carleton head coach Kwesi Loney and Ontario Tech head coach Ramin Mohammadi. There was practically no space to move the ball through the midfield as both sides remained disciplined in keeping their respective formations. The only breakthrough came when Luca Piccioli (Ottawa, Ont.) found Scott Mazzotta (Ottawa, Ont.) with a nice pass before Mazzotta put his attempt wide of the Ridgeback goal.
The Ravens had a handball shout off a corner kick in the 30th minute. The fans at TAAG Park and the Raven bench thought they saw an Ontario Tech outstretched that would result in a Carleton penalty, but the referee did not get a good look at it much to the Ravens’ dismay. Ontario Tech’s Christopher Campoli (Woodbridge, Ont.) struck a free kick off the crossbar and over the net just on the cusp of halftime. Campoli’s 10 goals lead the OUA, but neither the Ravens nor the Ridgebacks could find a goal in the first half.
“Full credit to Ontario Tech. We struggled to find a way inside tonight,” Kwesi Loney said post-game.
Carleton kept pressing as the match moved into the second half. Moses Kafeero (Ottawa, Ont.) nearly opened the scoring of a Carleton corner in the 61st minute, but his header missed wide.
In the 63rd minute, Christopher Campoli (Woodbridge, Ont.) scored the opening goal for the Ridgebacks off a free kick rebound which the Ravens could not clear. Carleton nearly answered in the 67th minute off a corner kick, but the Ontario Tech goalkeeper made a goal-line save to preserve the lead.
The Ridgebacks would add a late goal in the 89th to put themselves up 2-0 and secure a huge three points. Christopher Campoli (Woodbridge, Ont.) buried his second of the match and 12th on the season.
The Ravens are back in action tomorrow, Oct. 8, where they will take on the Laurentian Voyageurs at 3:15 p.m. live from TAAG Park. Come early for the first half of the doubleheader where the Raven women will face Laurentian at 1:00 p.m. as they continue their push for the playoffs. Tickets are available now!
