Sam Reynolds

While McGill and Percival Molson Stadium play host to the CIS Women’s Soccer national championship tournament, another team of red-and-white-clad soccer players will be gunning for glory on the other side of the continent. A late goal from Yohann Capolungo made the difference as the Redmen secured their berth in the CIS Men’s Soccer national championship Friday night with a 1-0 victory over the UQTR Patriotes. The weekend ended on a sour note for McGill, however, as they dropped the RSEQ final by a score of 3-2 against UdeM.

McGill heads into the CIS championship, located in Victoria, B.C., seeking their first national title since 1997.  The Redmen look to improve on their last performance at the tournament, two years ago, when they lost to Laval in the finals.

Head Coach David Simon said that his team remained composed and put in a great playoff performance to qualify for nationals.

While Friday’s scoreline indicates a close-fought game, McGill was dominant as they put a great deal of pressure on the Patriotes, registering 14 shots, nine of which were directed towards the goal. Captain Thomas Lucas was impressed with his team’s play early on.

“We played really well and came out firing in the first 25,” Lucas said. “We wished we could have put in a few early but we do well at keeping it tight.”

Not allowing themselves to get discouraged after so many failed scoring attempts, the Redmen finally broke the deadlock in the 73rd minute as fourth-year midfielder Yohann Capolungo took a beautiful cross from substitute Alex King and sent it flying past UQTR keeper Vincent Guay-Cote for the goal. “We came through in the end,” Lucas said. “We haven’t been able to do that in years past and I’m very proud of my guys.”

Capolungo, originally from France and a product of Ligue 1 AJ Auxerre’s youth academy, understood the magnitude of the contest and showed that McGill’s stars can rise at the game’s most critical moments. “I haven’t had a really good season,” said Capolungo, “but I am here for the big games and that’s good for the team.” The Redmen forward hoped that the momentum they gained from the late-goal victory would carry over into the RSEQ final last Sunday and help McGill win their first Quebec title since 2002.

Capolungo’s hopes for a carry-over effect were dashed quickly on Sunday as UdeM scored two goals in the first 25 minutes to build a lead that they would never relinquish. Alexander Trotsky had a two-goal afternoon, each time cutting Montreal leads in half, but that was as close as McGill would come to knocking off the Carabins. The Carabins, winners of six of the last nine RSEQ crowns, fired a staggering 26 shots at McGill goalkeeper Charles Kelly, who played both playoff games in relief of the injured Matt Gilmour.

McGill will have four days to get ready before taking on Canada’s best as the national championship gets underway on Thursday at Victoria’s Centennial Stadium.

Additional reporting by Brandon Romano.