Men's Soccer 2010-11
hereCMU CONCEDES IN BRONZE-MEDAL MATCH
The CMU men’s soccer team achieved their highest goal-output of the season in Sunday’s MCAC bronze medal showdown with St-Boniface College, but despite the improvement offensively, it was the Voyageurs who recorded the win in a 6-3 final. First-year midfielder Sean Dyck opened the scoring for CMU in minute-nine of the contest, pushing past the CUSB defenders and tucking the ball neatly inside the post. Shortly before half-time, St-Boniface would draw level when CMU failed to clear the ball from inside the penalty area. The mistake stung CMU and cost them a half-time lead. Misfortune continued to be CMU most formidable opponent in the second-half. Only minutes into the restart, CUSB went ahead 2-1 and 3-1, then 4-1 by minute 55 on an own goal from CMU center-half, Stefan Dyck. “It has been one of those weekends for us where we play very well for long spells, then one mistake happens and the ball becomes magnetized to our goal,” said the disappointed CMU head coach. “We are very much in a game, then you blink and you are down by three goals.”
Unwilling to concede, even when trailing 6-1 with 20 minutes remaining to play, CMU showed there class and character. Playing in his final game, fourth-year right back Mike Harms headed Adam Janzen’s free kick into the CUSB goal. Five minutes later, Harms would head a corner off the hand of a defender, putting Chris Epp Tiessen to the penalty spot for CMU where he calmly scored his first of the season.
“Fourth-place is disappointing, no doubt,” said Willms, “but my team was incredible this weekend and I am completely proud of every player. They showed unbelievable discipline, sportsmanship and resilience.”
Harms was recognized in the match as CMU’s Player of the Game. Janzen received the same honors in CMU’s semi-final loss to U of Winnipeg. Midfielder Dean Dueck and defender Stefan Dyck were selected by the MCAC to the 2010 All-Conference Team.
Date October 25, 2010
Controversy Reigns in Soccer Derby
The historic CMU-Providence derby had just about everything a soccer fan could ask for on Saturday afternoon when the two rivals met for the second time this season. In their earlier meeting in September, the Freemen edged the Blazers 2-1 on a 91st minute penalty shot.Providence's high-octane attack sputtered through the opening forty-five minutes, thanks in large part to an organized and determined CMU midfield and back-four. The center-half pairing of Adam Janzen and Stefan Dyck cleared any danger with precision and fourth-year defender Mike Harms kept the illusive Providence captain Johannes Asrat from getting in behind him - a tough task for any defender.
Dynamic midfielder Mario Giesbrecht was forced to leave the game for Providence with an ankle injury in the 26th minute when he and Dyck met for a fifty-fifty ball that the second-year midfielder took the worst of. Without his services, CMU began to win the battles in the midfield and found opportunities to go forward in the match.
The tides turned on CMU in the 39th minute of the opening half, when Providence was awarded a penalty kick for an inadvertent hand-ball in the penalty area. A powerful half-volley blasted from Andry Giesbrecht's boot, struck Janzen in the arm that covered his face, and resulted in a yellow card, a penalty shot and a 1-0 Providence lead. Asrat slipped a well-taken penalty past Graeme Leaver to put Providence ahead.
Controversy would emerge again on the half-time whistle. No sooner had the referee awarded CMU a corner-kick in the 45th minute, than he would take the opportunity away by sounding for half-time before the kick was taken.
A wonderful by Joel Janke put Providence ahead by two goals shortly after the restart. Martial Galay marched the ball down the right-wing, saw a lurking Janke inside the penalty area, and the second-year midfielder cut right-footed volley into the CMU goal in minute 53.
Though the soccer was full of passion, it was discipline, sending-off and controversy that was the story of the second-half. It began in the 76th minute with Asrat receiving a straight-red card on what the referee interpreted to be an aggressive attempt to injure an opponent - a decision that shocked Asrat, the opposition and the spectators. Providence forward Brenden Wiens was the next to see red in the 81st minute when he received a second yellow card for an overly aggressive challenge.
A nine-man Providence team managed to protect their goal for the final ten minutes of the match, defend their lead and secure all three points in the match, but none were pleased with the outcome. "It is incredibly disappointing when you work as hard as we worked this week and come out with utter injustice," said the frustrated head coach. "It is hard to deal with for us and I felt horrible for them in the second half and the player that was sent off."In a game without any importance on the final standings, CMU was defeated 4-0 by St-Boniface in the final match for both teams before the MCAC Championships. Elom Akpalo scored twice for les Voyageurs in the victory. The Blazers will finish fourth with a record of 0-6 and take on the University of Winnipeg in the conference semi-final next Saturday afternoon.
Date October 18, 2010
CMU Drops 3-1 Away Decision
First-year striker Mouhamadou Hane scored twice on Saturday afternoon to pace College Universitaire de St-Boniface to a 3-1 win over CMU in MCAC men's soccer action from Homestead Park. It was the Blazers that jumped ahead in the game in the twenty-seventh minute when Cam Friesen lobbed a 10-yard pass to Peter Dueck behind the St-Boniface defense. The 6'3 center forward showed a clinical touch, volleying a left-foot goal off the under-side of the crossbar and past goalkeeper Mamadou Ba. Stefan Dyck had a chance to make put CMU up two goals when the referee awarded him a free-kick from 25-yards out shortly after the half-hour mark. The central defender's right-footed effort sailed inches over the goal and left CMU clinging to their one goal lead.Hane would draw les Voyageurs level before the half-time whistle when Tarik El Assal's cross fell inside the six-yard box and the product of Senegal equalized at 45 minutes. Deep in first-half added time, Ababacar Hane made it 2-1 St-Boniface on a similar play from a short corner-kick, this time heading the ball past CMU goalkeeper Graeme Leaver.
"We worked extremely hard to get out of that first half with the lead or at least tied going into the second-half", said a disappointed CMU coach Russell Willms. "The referee didn't do us any favors today allowing 49 first half minutes. It isn't easy to pick yourselves up at half-time when you feel you are deserving of a better fate."
The second half began with few chances for either team. Midway through a second St-Boniface short corner-kick gave les Voyageurs an insured the three points. Mouhamadou Hane collected his brace on Leopold Senghor's delivery that fell to ground inside the six-yard area.
With little left in the tank, CMU had difficultly getting into the final third of the field to create chances to get back in the game. The best second half chance that the Blazers had came from Dean Dueck's ranging run down the right wing but his shot was dealt with easily by Ba.
As CMU hits the half-way point of their MCAC season, they are still in pursuit of their first point of 2010. "We are really in tough this year but all our players have the right effort and attitude" said Willms.
SCORING:
CMU - Peter Dueck (Cam Friesen) 27 min.
CUSB - Mouhamadou Lamine Hane (Tarik El Assal) 45 min.
CUSB - Ababacar Hane 49 min.
CUSB - Mouhamadou Lamine Hane (Leopold Senghor) 60 min.
DISCIPLINE:
CUSB - Tarik El Assal, cautioned (descent) 65 min.
CMU - Chris Epp-Tiessen, cautioned (dangerous play) 70 min.
STARTING LINEUP:
1 - Graeme Leaver (GK)
2 - Scott Feick 60
4 - Stefan Dyck
6 - Sean Dyck
8 - Mike Harms 65
9 - Chris Epp-Tiessen
12 - Peter Dueck 75
13 - Dean Dueck 74
16 - Cam Friesen
18 - Adam Janzen
19 - Ethan Heidebrecht 80
SUBSTITUTES:
11 - David Epp 74
15 - Niko Schellenberg 80
17 - Justin Rempel 65
20 - Matt Mayers 60
21 - Dillon Funk 75
Date October 3, 2010
Wesmen Blank Blazers
The competition was stiff on Saturday afternoon, when CMU kicked-off at
home against the University of Winnipeg. The MCAC new-boys are a team
loaded with talent and the Wesmen took it to the Blazers right from the
opening whistle. In the second minute of the match, a whipped-cross from
Sean Dong was nicked in by Amos Ganyea past CMU goalkeeper Graeme Leaver
to put the Wesmen ahead. Twenty-two minutes later, Dong would make it
2-0 shooting a loose ball past Leaver.The goal of the game came off of
left-back Paul Thompson's boot when he delivered a clinical volleyball
into the right side of the net on 40 minutes.
The second-half dealt CMU a similar fate. Dong scored his second of the
match nine minutes into the period when he was right-time right-place on
a spilled cross. A final goal by striker Andrew Okenwa at 75 minutes to
complete the games scoring.
Second-half substitute Cam Friesen made an impact for CMU in his limited playing time, nearly earning a penalty kick in the 57th minute when he was pulled down in the area. Blazer midfielders Chris Epp-Tiessen and Dean Dueck were tireless workers. "The score was indicative of the play and the quality of the Wesmen players, but our work-rate, commitment and attitude was first-class," said CMU coach Russell Willms.
The Blazers have little time to regroup as they travel to Whittier Park
Sunday afternoon to face St. Boniface College (0-1-1).
SCORING:
U of W - Amos Ganyea (Sean Dong) 2 min.
U of W - Sean Dong 24 min.
U of W - Paul Thompson (Adam Bromley) 40 min.
U of W - Sean Dong 54 min.
U of W - Andrew Okenwa (Amos Ganyea) 75 min.
DISCIPLINE:
U of W - Kevin Caron, cautioned (dangerous play) 81 min.
STARTING LINEUP:
1 - Graeme Leaver (GK)
2 - Scott Feick
4 - Stefan Dyck
8 - Mike Harms
9 - Chris Epp-Tiessen
11 - David Epp
12 - Peter Dueck 55
13 - Dean Dueck 62
17 - Justin Rempel 40
18 - Adam Janzen
19 - Ethan Heidebrecht 75
SUBSTITUTES:
6 - Sean Dyck 40
15 - Niko Schellenberg
16 - Cam Friesen 55
20 - Matt Mayers 62
21 - Dillon Funk 75
91st Minute Penalty Sinks Blazers
Providence captain Johannes Asrat scored once and set up another as the Freemen bounced back from a home field loss to University of Winnipeg, with a 2-1 win over their rivals from CMU.A powerful south-wind forced both sides to carefully consider their tactics. CMU faced the wind in the first half and did well to get the ball forward to create chances. They were a shoelace away from opening the scoring in the 17th minute, when second-year winger, Ethan Heidebrecht's cross skipped over Cam Friesen's swinging boot from inside the six-yard box and was easily collected by Providence goalkeeper Kyle Perry. Nine minutes later, reigning conference MVP Andry Giesbrecht capitalized for Providence, when he redirected Asrat's cross passed an outstretched Graeme Leaver.
Coming into the second half, trailing only by a goal and playing with the wind, CMU looked the more confident of the two teams at the restart. Moments into the half, CMU's Stefan Dyck was allowed to turn with the ball in the penalty area, only to have his cross-attempt deflected into touch. Later, in an attempt to clear the ball from the penalty area, Chris Epp-Tiessen unloaded at goal but his right-footed volley was blocked by a defender.
The Blazers drew level on the 65th minute when Dyck played a 40-yard pass behind the Providence back four, presenting the CMU-rocket Heidebrecht, with a clear path to goal. The native of Crossfield, Alberta pounded the ball past Perry to make the scoreline 1-1.
As the minutes ticked to ninety, neither team looked poised to create a winner until extra time. Full of flare, Providence second-half substitute Miguel Fictoria was fresh and hungry for a goal. One minute into added time, the skillful second-year midfielder, dribbled into the penalty area and forced Dyck into a foul that would lead to a game-winning kick from Asrat. The
reiging MCAC Male Athlete of the Week cooly shot Providence onto a 2-1 win from the spot.
The win brought Providence to 2-1 in league play and leaves CMU at the bottom of the table at 0-1.
"Our players showed me alot today," said CMU coach Russell Willms, "we came out organized and well-versed in our gameplan. We held a very good team to one goal in the first half and we traded chances with them for most of the game. We won our battles, we showed that we can possess the ball a little and we believe in ourselves. Credit to Providence - they are a good side."
CMU will prepare to host University of Winnipeg next Saturday afternoon at 2 o'clock.
SCORING:
PROV - Andry Giesbrecht (Johannes Asrat) 26 min.
CMU - Ethan Heidebrecht (Stefan Dyck) 65 min.
PROV - Johannes Asrat (PK) 91 min.
DISCIPLINE:
None
STARTING LINEUP: 1 - Graeme Leaver (GK)
2 - Scott Feick
4 - Stefan Dyck
6 - Sean Dyck
8 - Mike Harms
9 - Chris Epp-Tiessen 78
12 - Peter Dueck 65
13 - Dean Dueck 60
16 - Cam Friesen
18 - Adam Janzen
19 - Ethan Heidebrecht 85
SUBSTITUTES:
11 - David Epp 65
17 - Justin Rempel 60
20 - Matt Mayers 78
21 - Dillon Funk 85
Date September 26, 2010
AZER SOCCER KICKS OFF
First-year midfielder, Sean Dyck scored CMU's first goal of the season, but Andrew Robinson's brace was more than enough as recently promoted Scotia United defeated the Blazers 4-1 on Sunday evening. The Manitoba Major Soccer League side opened the scoring in the 9th minute when Dave Bishop pounded a volley past CMU goalkeeper Graeme Leaver. Late in the half, first-year midfielder Cam Friesen sent Dyck in on goal and the Minnedosa native pushed the ball past Ryan Tippman to draw the Blazers level.Two powerful left-footed strike from Robinson were the difference in the second half. The first came in the 55th minute and the second was Scotia's fourth goal, 7 minutes before the final whistle. Former CMU captain, Jeff Klassen scored Scotia's third goal, heading Josh Hofmeister's corner kick past Leaver on minute 65.
On all accounts, Leaver's play was outstanding. The 5'8 first-year goalkeeper held CMU in the game throughout the contest. "Graeme has really shown dedication this summer and it is paying off in his performance", said CMU head coach Russell Willms, "We are learning as a team to defend and play together. This was a good test for us and we will continue to get ourselves prepared for our conference matches next weekend."
In women’s action, CMU fell 7-3 to Roosters FC of the Winnipeg Women’s Soccer League, a club recently promoted to the Senior Women’s Premier League. Third-year forward, Maraleigh Short scored all three goals for CMU, picking right up where she left off last season.As part of CMU's 10th Anniversary Homecoming festivities, CMU will host St. Boniface College on Saturday at 2 pm and Providence College on Sunday at 4 pm. The CMU tackle Portage Blaze on Saturday at 12 pm and Providence in conference action on Sunday at 2 pm.
Date September 22, 2010