The Carleton Ravens men’s soccer team demolished the Royal Military College (RMC) Paladins 10-0 Sept. 11 in Kingston, Ont., bringing the Ravens’ road record early in the season to a perfect 3-0.
An early opening goal came from striker Caki Simrooglu at the two-minute mark, while midfielders Joey Kewin and Josh Dewar-Morris followed up with two goals each in the opening half.
Simrooglu has been an early standout for the Ravens, having recorded two goals in the team’s 3-2 victory against the University of Toronto Varsity Blues Sept. 4.
But it was Kewin who shone in the match against RMC. He netted a second goal in the second half, resulting in his first hat trick of the season, and rookie keeper Mark Krocko stood his ground for the shutout.
The win puts the Ravens at first place in the Ontario University Athletics East division with nine points, putting them three points ahead of Ryerson, the University of Toronto, and Queen’s, who are all tied for second with six points each.
“We came out pretty early,” said assistant coach Kwesi Loney. “We scored within the first two minutes of play, and after that we had a good run and played hard, obviously trying to make up for our result against Queen’s.”
“Everyone was clicking,” Kewin said. “Our back line played as a unit and our strikers put away the chances we created.”
The blowout followed a disappointing loss to the Queen’s Gaels Sept. 7, where the Ravens were shutout 2-0 in their home opener at Keith Harris Stadium.
Kewin said the win against the Paladins provided a confidence boost for the men, as they head into two more road games.
“After a tough loss [ . . . ] it was nice to bounce back with three away points,” Kewin said.
Following the loss to the Gaels, the team wanted to focus on the tough stretch ahead instead of dwelling on the loss, Loney said.
“The training sessions were hard and intense throughout the week and the main focus was putting that [game behind us] and getting back on track.”
And they did just that.
“We executed where we couldn’t do so against Queen’s,” Loney continued. “We had a little more intensity, a little more urgency, and you could see that in the first half.”
Loney said he hopes his team can convert the success on the road to success at home.
The Ravens face the Laurentian University Voyageurs and the Nipissing University Lakers next in a two-day away game stretch Sept. 17-18.
Both teams have only recorded one win apiece in the five games they have played so far this season.
But Kewin said he doesn’t expect the upcoming away games to be an easy ride.
“They’ll be very tough games,” he said. “Playing up north is always a battle. However, if we play our game, anything other than six points would be a disappointment.”
