LU men battle to two wins on the weekend

The Laurentian Voyageurs men's soccer team have given themselves at least a fighting chance.

Heading into the weekend with a record of 1-6-1, the Voyageurs moved to within shooting distance of a playoff berth, registering a pair of critical victories at home. And while a 1-0 triumph over the RMC (Royal Military College) Paladins was hardly unexpected, a 3-2 victory over the Queen's Gaels (5-2-3) was key.

Picking up six points over the two-game stretch, including three against a higher ranked team in the standings, was all the more important coming off a five-game winless streak that included home-and-home losses to the Nipissing Lakers.

A goal from Dean Pizolinas early in the second half provided the margin of victory against the Paladins, as Laurentian keepers Duncan Jobson and Connor Vande Weghe split the shutout, working one half apiece.

Desperately in need of a few more three-point efforts, the LU lads played one of their most impressive halves of the season the next afternoon, bolting out to a 2-0 lead over Queen's, courtesy of goals from Matt Wilkes and Chris Atkinson, the first of his OUA career.

The Gaels stormed back in the second half, as both Oliver Coren (57th minute) and Kristian Zanette (69th minute) foiled Vande Weghe. All of which set the stage for a dramatic finish as Nick Franke took advantage of a corner kick awarded to Laurentian late in stoppage time, netting the game-winning goal in what will be reflected as the 90th minute.

With a record of 3-6-1 (10 pts), the Voyageurs currently trail the UOIT Ridgebacks (13) and Nipissing (14), with all teams having six remaining games on the schedule. Laurentian finds themselves one spot outside the playoff picture, as they continue their homestand on Thanksgiving weekend.

On Oct. 10, the LU men play host to the Trent Excalibur (0-9-1), with a 2:15 p.m. start time at the Laurentian field. Sunday brings yet another all-important matchup, as UOIT (4-5-1) are in town, with quite possibly the sixth and final playoff position on the line.