McGill University Athletics

(VERSION FRANÇAISE SUIT)

MONTREAL — Nicholas Minchillo, Lefika Noko and Luca Capraro scored as the McGill Redbirds blanked the UQAM Citadins 3-0 in RSEQ men's soccer action Friday at Stade Hébert, clinching a playoff berth and extending their undefeated streak to seven games.

Goalkeeper Ludovyck Ciociola made four saves for his fourth consecutive shutout and sixth clean sheet of the season, matching McGill's highest total in 18 years. The last time the Redbirds recorded six shutouts was in 2008, when they finished second in the Quebec conference with a 7-1-4 record.

The victory improved McGill's record to 6-2-1, doubling its win total from last season. After opening the campaign with two consecutive losses, the Redbirds have rattled off a 6-0-1 record over their last seven games. Their six victories are the program's highest single-season total since 2011, when McGill finished second with a 7-3-2 record.

The result also completed McGill's first regular-season sweep of UQAM since 2010. The Redbirds defeated the Citadins 5-0 at Percival Molson Stadium on Sept. 18 before adding Friday's 3-0 road victory, outscoring their cross-town rivals 8-0 over the two meetings.

With three games remaining before the playoffs, second-place McGill trails division-leading Montreal (7-0-2) by four points in the seven-team Quebec conference. The Redbirds sit two points ahead of Laval (5-3-2), which has played one more game, and three ahead of fourth-place UQTR (5-3-1).

McGill could finish anywhere from first to fourth in the tightly contested standings.

Minchillo opened the scoring just 4:44 into the contest, giving McGill an early 1-0 lead. Noko doubled the advantage at the 45-minute mark, sending the Redbirds into halftime with a 2-0 cushion. Both goals were officially unassisted.

Capraro put the game out of reach in the 90th minute, converting a setup from Maher Fares at 89:08 to complete the scoring.

Ciociola, a fifth-year senior from Montreal, played all 90 minutes to earn his sixth shutout of the season and 18th career clean sheet in regular-season play. The Redbirds have outscored their opponents 15-1 during their seven-game undefeated streak, which began with a 1-0 victory at Laval on Sept. 11.

McGill held a 9-6 advantage in attempted shots and an 8-4 edge in shots on goal. The Redbirds also generated four corner kicks to UQAM's one.

The Citadins used two goalkeepers. Léo Bihel started and made three saves before Antoine Laliberté took over early in the second half and added one stop.

The match featured four yellow cards, three assessed to UQAM. Patient Misanga-Katembo, Dylan Nguelebanga and Younes Agnoug were cautioned for the Citadins, while Vincent Boutet received McGill's lone yellow.

McGill closes out its regular-season schedule with three games, beginning Sunday, Oct. 18, when the Redbirds host Sherbrooke (3-5-2) at Percival Molson Stadium at 1 p.m. They then visit cross-town rival Concordia (1-8-0) on Oct. 23 before returning home to face the division-leading Montreal Carabins (7-0-2) in their season finale on Oct. 25.

UQAM, which fell to 2-8-0, visits UQTR on Sunday at 1 p.m.

BOXSCORE

RSEQ STATS & STANDINGS