A one-man wrecking crew.
That, perhaps, the best way to describe Tyler Attardo on Saturday, as his hat-trick single-handedly brought him and the rest of the York University Lions men's soccer team to victory in the consolation final at the U SPORTS championship in Sydney, N.S.
It isn't often someone 'settles' for a hat-trick, but on a day he could have easily had five or six goals, three will have to do in what was a tremendous cap to a terrific rookie season for the East Paul, Man. native.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- The match remained goalless through the first half hour, despite a goal post from the X-Men and a couple near misses from the Lions.
- In the 35th minute, the Lions would get on the board. A gorgeous through ball from Isaac Bradbury found the foot of Attardo, who managed to stay onside while splitting two St. FX defenders and beat X-Men keeper Sam Diltz to give the Lions the late-first-half lead.
- The X-Men would level things back up before the break on a fortunate play. Lions keeper Alessio Carbone played the ball forward and it was intercepted by Logan Rieck of the X-Men. He sent a shot toward goal from well out that caught Carbone out of his cage and squared the match at 1-1 at the halftime whistle.
- In the second half, the Attardo show continued. First, he stung a strike right off the bar and out from just right of the semi-circle. Then, moments later, he was robbed twice in tight by Diltz in quick succession, and, somehow, we remained tied.
- His luck would turn in the final five minutes, however. In the 87th minute, FrankRoss Di Matteo sent a ball into the box that Attardo settled down, before spinning and firing one off the far post and past Diltz to put the Lions in front in the match's waning moments.
- Then, after a St. FX free kick from distance that was grabbed by Carbone, he sent the ball up to Chris Melino, who launched an ariel to Attardo down the middle. Attardo, in behind the defence, beat Diltz for the third time to seal a 3-1 victory for the Lions, ending their season on a high note with a fifth-place finish at the U SPORTS championship.
LOOKING AHEAD:
The Lions now shift gears to 2024 and what promises to be another great season with Attardo and OUA MVP Christian Zeppieri once again leading the charge.
