The Carleton Ravens men’s soccer season is over, but team captain Yusuf Osman says the squad’s rebuild this year was a successful one.
The Ravens came close but fell short of defeating York in the OUA playoff semifinals in Toronto, ending their season on Oct. 25.
Tied 1-1 after extra time, the Ravens fell 5-3 in the ensuing penalty shootout.
Despite the loss, team captain Yusuf Osman said the season was “memorable in every way.”
Carleton finished their regular season 6-1-5, and defeated Trent and TMU in the first two rounds of the playoffs.
Ravens Roberto Paguaga-Frankovich, Nicholas Gagan, and Caden Tomy were named OUA East First Team All-Stars on Oct. 29.
“As the season went on, we came together,” he said.
Head coach Marcelo Plada has led the team for three years and said the program has been rebuilding since he arrived. This season saw a major shift, with 10 new players joining the roster and four earning spots in the starting lineup.
“We’ve rebuilt the whole team in terms of cultural identity and establishing certain standards and habits,” Plada said.
Osman said Carleton’s squad stands out from other teams that he felt were more “individual or self-centred,” saying the Ravens “gel” on the pitch.
Plado added that the team’s camaraderie “helps them suffer in the moments they have to suffer and also enables them in moments when they can push themselves to another level.”
“For the past three months, I’ve seen these guys more than I’ve seen my own family,” said Osman, who will graduate this year.
With few players leaving the team this year, Osman said optimism is high for the Ravens’ performance next season.
“Look out for this team next year because it’s going to be strong, and the guys are already hungry.”
Featured image by Marc Lafleur/Carleton Ravens
