MONTREAL – Olivier Roy of Rivières-du-Loup, Que., scored in the 53rd minute and goalkeeper Tony Awad posted a nine-save shutout as Concordia blanked visiting McGill 1-0 in a flag-filled men's university soccer game, Sunday.
 
The Redbirds had a glorious scoring opportunity to tie in injury time. Fleet-footed midfielder Nassim Kemel, a first-year transfer who hails from Algeria, was awarded a free kick from about 24 yards in front of the Concordia net. But Awad, a 5-foot-11 sophomore from Oakville, Ont., made a spectacular diving save and followed that with two additional key plays on McGill corner kicks in the ensuing moments before time was called. The Redbirds ended up with a 7-2 advantage in corners.
 
Gavin McFee, a 5-foot-11 psychology sophomore from Kelowna, B.C., was a surprise starter for McGill, replacing Ludovyck Ciociola, who had started all six previous league games. McFee was credited with four saves on five shots and charged with the loss.

The game featured eight yellow cards, five of them to the Stingers, and 19 fouls, with 13 against Concordia. The previous meeting between these bitter archrivals on Sept. 3, produced 13 yellows and one red card.
 
The result improved Concordia's record to 2-3-2 and catapulted the Stingers into fifth place, two points behind UQAM (3-2-1) in the last playoff spot and one point ahead of McGill (2-4-1).
 
The Redbirds return to action on Sept. 28 with a road game against second-place UQTR (4-3-0) at 8:15 p.m. They will return to Molson Stadium on Oct. 1 to confront division-leading Montreal (6-0-1). Concordia is off until meeting the Carabins on Sept. 29.
 
BOXSCORE
 
RSEQ STATS & STANDINGS
 
SOURCE:
Earl Zukerman
Sports Information Officer
Athletics & Recreation
McGill University
CELL: 514-983-7012
E-MAIL:earl.zukerman@mcgill.ca