Les Rouges blank Bobcats in men’s final

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 25/10/2024 (477 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

WINNIPEG — For the last six years, if you told the Brandon University Bobcats attackers two goals would win them a title, they’d guarantee victory every time.

But their lowest-scoring season in recent history ended like it started, with a lack of offensive firepower. The Bobcats limited the surgical St. Boniface Les Rouges offence to one goal but couldn’t find an equalizer, falling 1-0 in the Manitoba Colleges Athletic Conference men’s soccer final.

“Obviously we wanted to win today and it showed on the field,” Bobcats captain Nathan Chubaty said after his final MCAC soccer match.

“We gave up that early goal but guys didn’t back down, just kept going. Especially for the first-year, second-year players, it hurts more for them. Especially if you haven’t been able to reach nationals and win an MCAC championship.”

The scene at the final whistle wasn’t quite like 2022 when Les Rouges stunned the top-ranked Bobcats with a 4-3 upset in the Wheat City to snap Brandon’s title run dating back to 2019.

That day — and season — Camilo Rodriguez created the bulk of BU’s offence. The multi-time scoring leader netted a pair of penalty kicks and nearly led a three-goal comeback. Last year, he got BU going with goals in both playoff games.

The Bobcats attempted to replace him by committee but struggled to find the time and space their star would create by drawing two or three defenders.

The look on the Bobcats’ faces wasn’t disbelief on Friday. Deep down, everyone at Winnipeg Soccer Federation North believed the strongest team won.

But it wasn’t for a lack of effort.

USB pulled ahead 12 minutes in by building up from their defensive unit and forcing a turnover on the other end as captain Ibrahim Bezzahou was in the perfect spot to blast it past Matheus Souza.

The import goalkeeper injured his shoulder in a collision a few minutes earlier and left in a sling just after the 20-minute mark.

During the first half, fifth-year Zach Wood, who was banged up entering the weekend and didn’t start the semifinals, went down and was unable to continue.

A team already without import striker Victor Andrade, who left the semifinal late with a foot injury, simply couldn’t find a quality touch in the attacking third.

“I’m proud of these guys, they worked from the kickoff all the way down to the last whistle,” Chubaty said.

“Injuries to Souza, injuries to Woody, VA got hurt in the semis, I feel for them because I know how badly they wanted to be out there. At the same time, credit to the guys that stepped up. They didn’t miss a beat out there.”

Les Rouges, who steamrolled through the regular season and playoffs with 11 wins, three draws and zero losses, typically rode their offensive game, averaging three goals per game and netting four in a 4-0 semifinal over the Canadian Mennonite University Blazers. They were relaxed and comfortable with their one-goal edge for the majority of the day.

“We knew it was going to be a tough game. BU’s a very good team so I’m proud of the guys for battling it out,” said tournament MVP Reginald Jean-Paul.

BU fought to the final whistle, as backup keeper Zsombor Deak made a few terrific saves to keep his team in it.

Matheus Ruffini tried a bicycle kick and caught his defender’s head to earn his second yellow for a red card on the 90-minute mark.

While BU came up a few goals short, Chubaty is certainly proud of the group he’s leaving behind.

“When I went at the end to Zsombor, he was saying ‘I’m sorry Chubs.’ You have nothing to be sorry for. You were amazing out there,” Chubaty said. “Julien [Dizengremel], from his first year to now and playing for the final time with him outdoors here, he’s been tremendous. We call him our beast and we couldn’t have come this far without him.

“I don’t even know if I can express how proud of them I am, not only as a teammate but as a leader.”

» tfriesen@brandonsun.com

» Instagram: @thomasfriesen5