Clarke’s shootout saves send Capers to semis

Daniel Clarke made two huge saves in penalty kicks to get the win for the host team as the CBU Capers took down the UQTR Patriotes 2-2 (4-2) in the third quarterfinal game of the 2023 U SPORTS men's soccer championships in Sydney, N.S., Thursday evening.

The Capers goalkeeper stopped Vincent Lamy, who scored a penalty on him in regulation, and Samuel Laplante to wrap up the win. Clarke finished with seven saves in the game, in addition to the two decisive ones during penalty kicks.

Sebastian Cochrane found Owen Sheppard twice in very similar spots to open the scoring for CBU. The first in the 21^st minute and the second in the 32^nd, Sheppard showed great touch and control both times off of long balls from Cochrane to beat UQTR's Mathieu Lacharite.

The Patriotes piled on the pressure in the second half, totalling 11 shots with six on goal, compared to seven shots and only one on goal in the first half. They finally broke through in the 77^th minute when a foul in the box gave UQTR a penalty kick. Lamy stepped up and beat Clarke that time. Mahdi Abbassi came in clutch with the equalizer in the 90^th minute on a breakaway from a great pass by Etienne Bertrand to tie the game 2-2, but the Patriotes could not come up with enough during extra time and penalty kicks to complete the comeback.

The Capers will take on the winner of the game between Mount Royal and York at 6:30 p.m. (Atlantic) tomorrow, while the Patriots will face the loser of that same game at 1:30 p.m.

Nike Team players of the game:

• UQTR: Vincent Lamy
• Cape Breton: Daniel Clarke