The Carleton University Ravens and York University Lions men's soccer teams will face each other for the second year in a row in the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) Final match in their pursuit to lift the Blackwood Cup after winning their respective semi-final games today at the MNP Park in Ottawa, Ont.
 
The Ravens moved on to their second straight OUA Final after shutting down the Western Mustangs 3-0 in the first semi-final of the conference, while the Lions reached their sixth straight OUA final after a 1-nil win against Ryerson University Rams. The bronze medal match will be played at 1pm, followed by the OUA Final at 4pm at the MNP Park at the Carleton University Campus. Both matches will be streamed line on oua.tv.
 
Playing In the second semi-final of the day, the Lions needed well over 60 minutes to put themselves ahead of the game, while Ryerson demonstrated to be a tough challenge in what was a defensive minded game throughout.
 
In a scoreless first half, both teams had a few chances to open the score and while Ryerson had a better control coming from the back, York created the best opportunities of the half with five shots on goal against three for Ryerson.
 
After 65 minutes of battling in the middle of the field, the Lions scored the game winning goal on a single mistake by Ryerson's defense. The Rams inability to clear the ball inside the six-yard box on a corner kick, created the opportunity for Lion's defenceman Josh Kiselyov to dig the ball into the back of the net and score the goal that put York in their sixth consecutive OUA final.
 
The game winner for Kiselyov was just the second goal of his three-year Lions career and his first tally since the 2016 season.
 
"We have to be hungry in front of the net and make every opportunity we have into a positive one," said Lions head coach Carmine Isacco. "We countered Ryerson's mistake and our team took that opportunity and made the most of it."
 
The Lions played well defensively the rest of the way and stymied the Rams offence, which scored the second-most goals in the OUA during the regular season. Ryerson did have glorious to tie the game in extra time, but a deflection on a crossing pass sailed past goalie Mike Argyrides and just wide of the left post to keep the score 1-0.
 
After 30 minutes of battling for possession and few wide shots by Western and Carlton, Mustang Belal Halbouni missed to put Western ahead of the game in their best opportunity yet but Raven's keeper Nick Jeffs deflected the attempt with the tip of his fingers to save what could have been a key goal for the Mustangs.
 
Not too long after the Mustang's scoring attempt, OUA East MVP Dario Conte responded, pulling the trigger inside the penalty box after Dante Cobisa brought down the ball on Emad Houache's left cross to open the score 1-0 for the Ravens.
 
Just five minutes later Carleton moved up on the board with their second tally. This time Gabriel Bitar placed the ball in between the Mustang keeper's legs after a double step inside the box, cutting with his left foot for the 2-0 lead before the break.
 
In the second half the Mustangs battled to get back in the game, but Ravens head coach Kwesi Loney's squad was able to settle and take possession of the ball through out.
 
"We just needed to be calmer in the first half and control our nerves coming into the second to start playing our game, keep possession of the ball and moving forward," said Loney.
 
After Carleton created a couple more chances, Mustang's keeper Khody Thompson denied the Ravens next best opportunity, shutting down Gabriel Bitar's penalty kick. However, that did not prevent Bitar to attempt once again, blitzing past Mustang's last defender on a counter attack to deposit the ball on Western's back of the net for Carleton's third and final 3-0.
 
"Today the team showed their commitment in their pursuit of excellence," said Loney. "We have matured from last year. The players' consistency improved the team's performance and we are better prepared heading into the final game."
 
The Ravens will be looking to capture the Blackwood Cup after last year's attempt against York University, while the Lions will seek to claim their seventh OUA championship and fifth in the last six years.