Carleton Ravens defender Yusuf Osman (20) battles Montreal Carabins defender Alexander Katsaros (19) for the ball during the U Sports nationals quarterfinals in Sydney, N.S. on Nov. 9, 2023 [Photo by Vaughan Merchant/CBU Athletics]

As it was two years ago, the Carleton Ravens men’s soccer team found themselves on the wrong end of a penalty shootout again to the Montreal Carabins.

The Ravens lost 5-4 in penalty kicks to the Carabins in the U Sports nationals quarterfinals in Sydney, N.S.

Carleton’s hopes of a national championship came to a sudden end in the seventh round of kicks as Carabins backup goalkeeper Olivier Rouleau’s save on Yusuf Osman secured the win for Montreal.

The Ravens entered the tournament as the higher seed, finishing third after winning the OUA championship the week prior. The Carabins entered as the sixth seed after losing to the UQTR Patriotes in the RSEQ championship game.

The Montreal Carabins celebrate after defeating the Carleton Ravens men’s soccer team in the U Sports nationals quarterfinals in Sydney, N.S. on Nov. 9, 2023. [Photo by Vaughan Merchant/CBU Athletics]
The Ravens will now play the St. Francis Xavier X-Men in the consolation semifinals tomorrow and can only finish as high as fifth place in the tournament.

As in 2021, Montreal came hard at Carleton from the outset. The Carabins opened the scoring in the 33rd minute on the strength of Quentin Paumier’s finish. 

Although Montreal held the 1-0 lead into the second half, Carleton continued to push for the equalizer.

Carleton finally knotted the game in the 59th minute when Daniel Assaf finished Luca Piccioli’s free kick.

Piccioli’s initial kick was blocked by the Carabins’ wall, but the ball came right back to his foot. 

He lofted the ball toward the left goalpost where Rouleau grazed the ball with his fingers. The ball dropped behind him and Assaf was waiting on the doorstep for an easy goal.

Carleton Ravens midfielder Danny Assaf (18) protects the ball from the Montreal Carabins during the U Sports nationals quarterfinals in Sydney, N.S. on Nov. 9, 2023 [Photo by Vaughan Merchant/CBU Athletics]
With nothing solved through regulation and 30 minutes of overtime, the teams headed to penalty kicks.

Having qualified for nationals with their OUA semifinal win over the Brock Badgers in penalty kicks, Carleton had recent experience in this realm.

Ravens defender Tareq Hamad had the game on his shoulders after both teams sat at three goals each after four rounds. 

One kick away from advancing to the semifinals, Hamad’s shot missed the net entirely.

Carleton Ravens goalkeeper Tyler David (23) dives to make a save against the Montreal Carabuns in the U Sports nationals quarterfinals in Sydney, N.S. on Nov. 9, 2023 [Photo by Vaughan Merchant/CBU Athletics]
The teams remained tied after five rounds, thrusting the match into sudden death.

Both Carabins forward Theo Oberhuber-Poulin and Ravens defender Kevin Kaba scored, further extending the shootout.

Dianson scored in the seventh round for the Carabins, placing the pressure on Osman to keep the game alive for Carleton.

Osman’s shot landed square in the chest of a diving Rouleau, sending Osman to his knees as defeat sunk in.

A quarterfinals defeat is an undoubtedly disappointing result for a team that went undefeated in its first nine games of the regular season and was consistently ranked inside the top four of the U Sports rankings.

Carleton will face St. Francis Xavier Nov. 10 at 10 a.m. to determine the consolation finalists.

Featured image by Vaughan Merchant.

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