On Wednesday, Nov. 1, the Brock Badgers men’s soccer team gave it their all in the OUA semifinals, marking their first appearance at this stage since 2006. They faced off against the Carleton Ravens in a thrilling contest that ended in heartbreak for the Badgers.
The game took place at Carleton University’s TAAG Park on a chilly evening with hundreds of soccer fans in attendance eagerly anticipating an intense battle on the pitch.
The Badgers impressively started the match, opening the scoring in the 27th minute. A well-placed corner kick from Luca Danesi sailed over a cluster of players, including Carleton’s goalkeeper Tyler David. Defender Connor Carroll positioned himself perfectly at the right post and tapped the ball into the net, giving the Badgers the early lead.
Brock’s goalkeeper, Taylor Miskolczi, made a crucial save just before halftime to deny Carleton a game-tying goal. The stop from Miskolczi ensured the Badgers went into the break with a 1-0 lead.
However, the second half saw a change in momentum when a penalty kick was awarded to the Ravens in the 52nd minute. Luca Piccioli calmly converted the penalty, levelling the score at 1-1.
The Ravens pressed hard after the equalizer, but Brock’s defence stood firm. Carleton had a golden opportunity in the 84th minute when Miskolczi found himself off his line, leaving an open net. But Mohamed Bouzidi’s shot sailed high, much to the relief of the Badgers’ faithful.
With neither team able to find the elusive go-ahead goal, the match went into extra time. The first 15 minutes of extra time were gruelling, with neither squad gaining a clear advantage. A Brock kick from midfield struck the crossbar, almost producing a dramatic winner.
After over two hours of intense soccer, the score remained locked at 1-1, and the fate of the game was left to the drama of penalty kicks. Conrad Czarnecki and Michael Fernandez converted the first two penalties for the Badgers, but Carleton responded with two successful kicks.
It was Tyler David, the Carleton goalkeeper, who became the hero for the Ravens, making two crucial saves on the next two Badgers’ penalty attempts. The Ravens had the edge, leading 3-2 on penalties.
But the Badgers’ top goal scorer, Marc Iantomasi, came to the rescue when it mattered the most. Down 3-2 in penalties, he placed the ball just under the crossbar, levelling the shootout at 3-3.
In a high-pressure situation, Miskolczi made a crucial save on Carleton’s next penalty kick, sending the contest into sudden death penalty kicks. Unfortunately for the Badgers, a miss on their penalty was followed by a successful strike from Carleton’s Eric Yoseke, sealing the victory for the home side.
Despite the heartbreaking loss, the Badgers can hold their heads high for an incredible season that marked their best finish since 2006. With a talented squad and plenty of optimism for the future, Brock remains determined to make their way back to the Final Four and beyond in the coming season.
The Badgers have also had three players selected as all-stars this season. Centre-back,. Conrad Czarnecki and winger/defender Marc Iantomasi earned first-team all-star recognition. Winger Nicholas Esperanca made the second all-star team.
The Badgers may not have reached the OUA finals, but they’ve certainly left their mark on the 2023 season. The fans can look forward to more exciting soccer from this promising young team in years to come.
For more information on the Brock men’s soccer team, please visit gobadgers.ca.
