Players from the York University Lions and Trinity Western Spartans compete for the gold in the CIS national championships. The Carleton Ravens lost in the quarterfinals.
The Carleton Ravens men’s soccer team fell short of winning a national championship again this season, despite being heavily favored for the win.
The same happened last year, also at Keith Harris Stadium, in front of an energetic home crowd.
Next season, the team faces a loss of at least seven graduating players.
New and returning players will have high expectations to meet, according to Carleton’s athletic director.
“Certainly I think they are going to look at the type of player, in terms of the willingness to put it all out there to win the games,” Jennifer Brenning says.
Last year, the Ravens were upset by the University of Western Mustangs in the OUA semifinals.
But this year, the team seemed determined to make up for that loss.
They were the top ranked team in Canada for most of the year, racking up an impressive 12–1–1 record, and individual awards also piled up.
Six Ravens were selected to the OUA All–Star team, along with Javier Robles, winning OUA Rookie of the Year.
But the Ravens’ success was squashed at the 2008 national tournament, as they lost 4 – 1 in the quarterfinals against the Laval University Rouge et Or.
The loss ended players’ hopes of becoming champions on their home turf.
Ravens head coach Sandy Mackie says he was disappointed. “Nobody likes defeat. I never like to lose a game, any game, whether a national game or a regular league game,” he says.
Graduating Ravens player and goalkeeper Arjun Langford says the loss was tough on the entire team.
“We were all very quiet after the game. We were not talking at all for probably 45 minutes,” he said. “And then we talked about the game, and the things that happen. I felt terrible.”
First year defender Javier Robles tried to break down the reasons for the shocking upset.
“The team should slow the rhythm of the game during the second half,” he says.
“But we lose concentration in the first minutes of the second half,” Robles says.
Langford says the loss had more to do with the team’s offensive play. “We were trying to attack but the attack was not working,” he said.
Mackie says the team’s defeats show a lack of “mental and physical discipline.”
In the game against Laval, the Ravens took the lead in the first half by scoring one goal.
But let their opponents control the game in the second, with four goals.
“In the half time, I told them, you’ve got to stay tight and disciplined at the back,” Mackie says.
Brenning says new faces will be on the roster next season and veteran players will have to prove their worth during tryouts.
“People have to fight for their spots in the team, even if they are returning student athletes,” she says.
While the team lineup is expected to change, Mackie will be back to lead the team for his 17th season.
“I have no intention of changing the head coach,” Brenning says.