St. Francis Xavier X-Men goalkeeper Samuel Diltz (34) leaps for the ball in the U Sports nationals consolation semifinals in Sydney, N.S. on Nov. 10, 2023 [Photo by Vaughan Merchant/CBU Athletics]

The Carleton Ravens men’s soccer team’s journey at the U Sports national championships came to an end following a 2-1 loss to the St. Francis Xavier X-Men in the competition’s consolation semifinals.

The Ravens, who were only defeated once in their regular season campaign and scored an average of 3.17 goals per game, suffered their second defeat in two days and finished the tournament in Sydney, N.S. with just two goals scored.

Goals opened and closed the game. The X-Men shockingly scored before the one-minute mark after a poor pass from defender Raphaël Garcia was intercepted, quickly moved into the box and put past Ravens goalkeeper Tyler David. 

The X-Men went up 2-0 in the 89th minute on forward Blake Fenton’s one-time finish. The X-Men capitalized on an overly compact Ravens defence, allowing the ball to get across to Fenton. 

Ravens defender Brady Curkovic headed the ball in the net off a corner just a few minutes after the X-Men netted their second goal to bring the game within one, but the final whistle blew  shortly after play resumed, sounding defeat.

In the 89 minutes between goals, the Ravens fought to claw back. The OUA champions made multiple substitutions as well as positional and tactical adjustments in hopes of tying the game, but their lone goal was too little, too late.

Plagued by mistakes

Usually a technically sound team, Carleton fell victim to their own mistakes in vital moments.

Although Garcia’s soft pass was the only on-ball mistake the X-Men capitalized on, poor passes, first touches and defensive positioning were much more common in this game than in Carleton’s  regular season games. 

For the majority of the game, the Ravens were able to keep the X-Men at bay. They only conceded two shots on goal, but those shots were in such high-danger areas that they proved fatal. 

St. Francis Xavier X-Men midfielder Max Bodurtha (16) kicks the ball in the U Sports nationals consolation semifinals against the Carleton Ravens in Sydney, N.S. on Nov. 10, 2023 [Photo by Vaughan Merchant/CBU Athletics]
On the play that led to the second goal, the Ravens were so concentrated on the ball carrier that Fenton, sitting in an advanced attacking position, got lost in the shuffle. 

With the ball, the Ravens had similar troubles. Multiple players were unable to deliver the technical consistency in the build-up that brought them to this tournament, although they showed glimpses of that team at times. 

Although the Ravens faced more talented competition in their two games at the national championships, mistakes heavily contributed to the team’s disappointment.

Stonewalled

To the Ravens’ credit, they were still able to run the table on the offensive side of the ball, registering five shots on goal. This is a relatively low number for a team that averaged nearly 10 shots on goal through the regular season, but they managed to outshoot St. Francis in a losing effort. 

The Ravens slightly underperformed their regular season shot conversion rate of 31.9 per cent, but not for lack of effort. 

To put it in soccer terms, X-Men goalkeeper Samuel Diltz “put in a shift”: The 6-foot-5 keeper tipped, deflected and caught several quality shots from the Ravens to seal his club’s victory. 

Although his shutout was spoiled in the final seconds of the game, Diltz and his fellow X-Men won’t argue with the end result.

St. Francis Xavier X-Men defender Luke Green (5) keeps the ball away from Carleton Ravens forward Amadou Kone (19) in the U Sports nationals consolation semifinals in Sydney, N.S. on Nov. 10, 2023 [Photo by Vaughan Merchant/CBU Athletics]
With their season over, the Ravens will head back to Ottawa much earlier than anticipated. But with their team motto of “unfinished business,” they still have one accomplishment they have yet to achieve: a national championship.

This comes just six days after Carleton defeated York to capture the OUA championship. 

The X-Men will play in the consolation finals on Nov. 11 against the York Lions, who defeated the UQTR Patriotes 4-3 in penalty kicks hours after the Ravens’ defeat.

Featured image by Vaughan Merchant.

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