The Montréal Carabins shut out the UBC Thunderbirds 2-0 and advanced to the championship of the 2023 U SPORTS men's soccer championships in Sydney, N.S. on Friday evening.
The RSEQ runners-up were aggressive attacking all game long, taking 14 shots with six on goal. They did not truly break through until late in the game, when Julian Bruce headed a cross right to the feet of Yohan Le Bourhis, who had no problem finding the back of the net in the 81st minute to open up the scoring.
Sami McDuff added the insurance goal just over a minute later, after subbing in four minutes earlier. A beautiful through ball from Quentin Paumier set McDuff up nicely with only the Thunderbirds 'keeper to beat, and he did just that.
Sebastian Dzikowski gave UBC its biggest chance when a clearing attempt by a Carabins defender landed right at his feet, but the 2023 U SPORTS player of the year could not convert, blasting the ball off the crossbar. The Thunderbirds finished with just six shots in the game, none of them on goal.
The Carabins will play for gold on Sunday at 2 p.m. (Atlantic) against the winner of the second semifinal matchup between the Mount Royal Cougars and the Cape Breton Capers, while the Thunderbirds will battle for bronze at 11 a.m. against the loser of that game.
Nike Team players of the game
- Montréal: Kareem Sow
- UBC: Luke Norman