Finally! Men’s soccer wins first game since Oct. 2007

Despite having a shortened bench, the Concordia Stingers men’s soccer team battled hard with two second half goals to beat the UQAM Citadins 2-0 on Friday night.
The win was their first in almost a full calendar year when they defeated the UQTR Patriotes 1-0 on Oct. 17, 2007. It brings them up to four points for the season to go along with a draw against nationally ranked Laval earlier in the season.
Coach Lloyd Barker started the game with veteran goalkeeper Daniel De Palma. The game started with a lot of intensity between the two clubs, each getting their own scoring chances. At the 29-minute mark there was a collision between Concordia forward Fernando Dalusio and Citadins’ defender Mourad Bentouati in the middle of the field. Both said a few words, but nothing was made of it.
At half time the game was still scoreless. “The first half was one of our best halves of the season by far,” said captain Bryan Bourbonnais. De Palma played a very strong game keeping it in check and turning aside all shots he faced, “I wanted to do one or two good things,” said De Palma. “Letting the team win was big.”
Then the theatrics commenced as the referee blew the half time whistle when a scuffle ensued. Two of UQAM’s defenders, Bentouati and Maxime Pharand, began chirping at each other when a fist was thrown and some shoving continued. By the time the coaches had managed to separate them, one was brought one way, and the other went the opposite way.
“It’s not something you see everyday,” said coach Barker about the fight. He was content about his team’s performance. “Their first half was the best of the entire season and the result was well deserved.”
Both UQAM players had been ejected starting the second half, and for the first time in a while the Stingers, who have faced discipline problems throughout the latter part of the season, were actually the ones with a man up. In this case, it was actually a two-man advantage, and the game was 11 against nine for the entire second half.
Sophomore goalkeeper Kyle Prillo-Guaiani was sent in for De Palma to start the second half. “I’ll take the time whenever I get it,” said Prillo-Guaiani. “It’s an honour to play for the Stingers.”
De Palma was happy for his counterpart to go in, “It’s kind of like [goaltenders Cristobal] Huet and [Carey] Price last year with the Montreal Canadiens,” De Palma said. “Except Huet got traded and I’m not going anywhere,” he said jokingly.
At the 70-minute mark, Concordia had a free kick just inside the box when midfielder Mario D’Otolo wired one past the UQAM goalkeeper on a free kick giving the Stingers the lead.
Barker had switched around the positioning of his players, letting defenceman Bourbonnais go forward for most of the game. “We’re having a losing season, and want to try new things,” said Bourbonnais. “We want to the let the young players have a chance to play.”
In stoppage time with the Stingers still dominating the game, Daluiso deked out and put the ball past the Citadin goalkeeper. Immediately following the goal the full-time whistle was blown.
“I’m happy for the boys, they were trying hard,” said Barker. “We were fortunate to be two-men up, and we had to come out with a victory.”
Concordia will finish off their regular season this weekend with home games against the Laval Rouge et Or on Friday at 8:00 p.m. and the McGill Redmen Sunday at 4:00 p.m.
“There are only two games left,” said Prillo-Guaiani. “Why not win them?”