Footballers down hoopsters for charity

 

 

 

The Carleton men’s soccer team squared off against the Ravens women’s basketball team in a barnburner of a basketball game to raise money for Kyosiga Community Christian Association for Development on April 1.

 

With two very athletic teams facing off it was anybody’s game and it wasn’t just pride on the line. The winner of the game would not only get athletics bragging rights but also have the losing team pick up their drinks tab at the end-of-the-year varsity banquet.

 

With the stacks set and the spotlight on the game, both teams came out ready to play.

 

The men’s soccer team didn’t have any ex-basketball players on the sidelines but that did not faze defenceman Roberto Gutierrez.

 

“Most of us know we are not basketball players, we are just trying to make the best of it and compete with the girls,” he said. “Even though they play basketball and we play soccer, we are still gunna beat ‘em.”

 

Running around like mad men, flying through the air to catch the ball and crashing to the floor of the Ravens Nest in fights for possession, the soccer team, being coached by women’s basketball coach Taffe Charles, gave the hoopsters, coached by soccer head Sandy Mackie, a run for their money.

 

Beating the women in a nail-biter, the footballers were all smiles as the clock wound down and they were crowned winners of the first annual Charity Classic.

 

“I think that the way some of these guys played, they should think about going over to coach Smart team next year, they could easily fill the role of a guy like Stu Turnbull,” Charles joked after the game.

 

“I thought the refereeing was a little one-sided.

 

We were definitely the superior team but the combination of the horrible refereeing and the bad choices made by my assistant coach Stu Turnbull, blew it for us,” Mackie said, pretending to be bitter with the loss.

 

But for Tanya Perry, the women’s go-to player throughout the season, the loss was a surprise.

 

“We honestly thought we were going to come out here and cream them,” she said. “Having the refereeing that we had didn’t help us either.”

 

Ravens soccer players said they had a great time, and think it should be an event held every year, even if the sports are switched up.

 

This response was echoed by Mackie.

 

“It was a fun time and we raised some money for a great charity and will continue to do it year after year.”