MONTREAL – Midfielder Wesley Wandje-Djomze scored in the 81st minute as top-seeded Montreal rallied for a late 2-1 victory over fourth-place McGill to capture the RSEQ men's soccer championship at Stade CEPSUM, Friday.
 
At stake was a higher seed at next week's U SPORTS national championship, as both Quebec teams had qualified for the eight-team tourney. The Carabins will now be seeded in the top four teams, while the Redbirds will be in the bottom four.
 
McGill had given the Carabins a scare in just the third minute of play when Mujtaba Mirhasan connected on a header from a corner kick made by Ibrahim Chami.
 
With the Redbirds ahead 1-0 at halftime, it appeared that a major upset could be a distinct possibility. But the Carabins responded with a pair of second-half markers, both initiated from corner kicks.
 
Quentin Paumier tied the score in the 55th minute on a set play. He was designated to take a corner from the left side but worked a quick give-and-go with Montacer El-Harchali and fired a high arcing shot across into the opposite side of the net.
 
That set the stage for the game-winning play. A Carabins corner was batted away by McGill goalkeeper Gavin McFee but the rebound was pounced upon at the 20-yar maker by Wandje-Djomze, who hammered it into the top left side of the net.
 
It was a heated affair, that featured the Carabins taking six of the 10 yellow cards that were issued by the referee. UdeM was also charged with 15 of the 26 fouls called. They had a 9-7 edge in attempted shots, including an 8-4 margin on target. Both sides had three corner kicks.
 
McFee, making his fourth consecutive start in place of injured 'keeper Ludovyck Ciociola, was credited with his first setback, making five saves in a losing cause. Joakim Mill, his counterpart on the Carabins, made two saves for the victory.
 
It was Carabins' sixth league title in the past seven seasons. and 12th banner overall since they joined the league in 2001, all under the guidance of head coach Pat Raimondo, who previously guided McGill to its last national title in 1997. His team captain in that 1997 season was Marc Mounicot, currently serving as bench boss of the Redbirds.

The Nationals are slated to be hosted by Ontario Tech University in Oshawa, Ont., Nov. 7-10. This is the first time that McGill will be going to soccer Nationals since 2011.
 
BOXSCORE

RSEQ STATS & STANDINGS
 

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Earl Zukerman
Sports Information Officer
Athletics & Recreation
McGill University
CELL: 514-983-7012
E-MAIL:earl.zukerman@mcgill.ca