TROIS-RIVIERES –
Mujtaba Mirhasan of Carignan, Que., scored twice, leading the McGill men's soccer squad to its biggest win in years, a 2-0 road victory over UQTR on Sunday, in the regular season finale, at the Centre de l'activité physique et sportive (CAPS).
It was McGill's fifth straight road game and the result put the Redbirds into third place with a 5-4-3 record. It also clinched a playoff berth for the first time since 2018. Additionally, the Redbirds are now just one win short of qualifying for the U SPORTS national championship in Oshawa, Ont., Nov. 7-10.
Both RSEQ finalists will qualify for Nationals this season, so McGill can advance to the show for the first time since 2011. The only hurdle for the Redbirds will be meeting second place UQTR (6-5-1) in a sudden-death Quebec semifinal slated for Trois-Rivieres in a 7 p.m. start on Oct. 25.
The Pats had an 11-8 edge in attempted shots and a 6-5 margin in shots on net. But they couldn't solve McGill goalkeeper
Gavin McFee, a 5-foot-10, psychology junior from Kelowna, B.C., who made six saves for his second shutout in as many starts. He has filled in admirably since starting 'keeper
Ludovyck Ciociola was injured in an Oct. 11 game against the Montreal Carabins.
Mirhasan scored what proved to be the game-winning tally in the 27th minute, assisted by
Nathan Yee. That goal stood until the final minute of play, when Mirhasan added an insurance marker, converting a pass from
Kyle Azuma.
Looking ahead to the league semifinal against UQTR, McGill swept their two-game season series with the Patriotes, including a 1-0 victory on Sept. 22 at Percival Molson Stadium. Both confrontations were heated affairs that featured six yellow cards handed out by the officials.
BOXSCORE
FINAL RSEQ STATS & STANDINGS
SOURCE
Earl Zukerman
Sports Information Officer
Athletics & Recreation
McGill University
CELL:
514-983-7012
E-MAIL:
earl.zukerman@mcgill.ca
