NANAIMO, B.C. – It didn't look like the Durham Lords could break through the Keyano Huskies' back line and keeper in their CCAA men's soccer championship bronze medal semifinal, but eventually they did – although it was short lived.
 
Durham trailed much of the match after Haris Bajric converted on a penalty kick in the 21st minute and despite numerous chances throughout the match eventually lost 2-1.
 
Kevin Thibodeau (Pickering, Ont.) found the back of the goal for the Lords in the 89^th minute, not long after Lerenz Griffith (Pickering, Ont.) was a foot away from tying the match for Durham. After the Huskies attempted to clear the ball, Daniel Kaminski (Oshawa, Ont.) settled the ball and put it back into the box, where Thibodeau got above Keyano's defenders to head it over the keeper.
 
Unfortunately for Durham, who looked poised to be sending the game to penalty kicks, C.G. Kavindjima knocked in an added time game-winning goal for the Huskies. The victory advances Keyano to the bronze medal game against the Holland Hurricanes, while the Lords will face the NAIT Ooks for the second time in the tournament.
 
In their opening match, they fell 4-0.
 
On top of the changes made in yesterday's game, Xavier Wright (Toronto, Ont.), Savon Brown (Whitby, Ont.) and Trevor Stephens (Aurora, Ont.) got the start for the Lords. Stephens was filling in for injured goalkeeper Dylan Yeo (Newmarket, Ont.), while Wright stepped in for CCAA All-Canadian Bruce Cullen (Pickering, Ont.) who was a game-time decision.
 
"I was just happy to get the start – it's been a long year with our other keeper getting the starts, but it was just an honour to play with my team at nationals," said Stephens. "We got unlucky at the last bit, but overall we played a great game and kept fighting to the end."
 
Stephens, a graduating senior this year, said reaching the national championship is definitely the highlight of his time with Durham College.
 
"In my last shot here we make it all the way to nationals, winning provincials – I'll never forget this year with the guys," he said. "This year has got to be the best by far."
 
Kick off for the fifth-place match against NAIT is 11:30 a.m. PST (2:30 EST). Watch live on CCAA.ca