MONTREAL – Rookie Elias Farhat of Kensington, Md., scored his first career goal, in the 79th minute, as McGill rallied for a 1-1 draw against visiting Laval in men's university soccer at Percival Molson Stadium, Sunday.
 
The game required a number of water-break stoppages in sweltering heat that started at 27C and reached 29C in the stands, but the temperature was hotter on the FieldTurf surface.
 
The Rouge et Or had taken a 1-0 lead in the 17th minute of play when Lukumbi Tshindaye found the back of the net.
 
Farhat's goal was the result of a nifty five-way passing play. The 18-year old anthropology freshman intercepted an errant Laval pass at midfield and worked a give-and-go with striker Mujtaba Mirhasan who back-heeled the ball to rookie forward Jordan Persia-Navascues on the right flank. He lobbed the ball ahead to Mirhasan on a breakaway, who fired a shot on the charging Laval goalkeeper Romain Bartoli. The 'keeper made the first stop but momentum forced him into a heavy collision with Mirhasan.
 
Farhat then fearlessly pounced on the rebound and fired it into the vacated net. The game was delayed about four minutes as both injured players were treated by their respective medical staff and left the game.
 
Reserve 'keeper Mahmoud Sylla played the final 11 minutes for Laval, although Bartoli was credited with four saves and the tie.
 
Ludovyk Ciociola played between the pipes for McGill, making five saves as his record improved to 1-1-2. The six-foot physical education junior from Montreal has a stingy goals-against average of 1.00.

McGill, which sits fourth in the seven-team RSEQ conference with a 1-1-2 record, will play next on Sept.20 when hosting Sherbrooke (0-4-1) in an 8:15 p.m.kickoff at Molson Stadium. Laval (0-1-3) plays the same night when hosting Concordia (3-1-0).
 
SCORING SUMMARY

RSEQ STATS & STANDINGS

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