OSHAWA, Ont. – Serving as host for the 2019 CCAA men's soccer national championship, Durham College captured their first men's soccer national gold medal in program history, defeating the VIU Mariners 3-2 in the championship final in front of a home crowd in Oshawa on Saturday evening.
The Lords previous men's soccer national medal came exactly two decades ago when they previously served as host for the prestigious event, capturing the CCAA bronze in 1999.
Durham Lords first-year striker Joshua Lee (Ajax, Ont.) was named championship MVP and a championship all-star, alongside teammates Nick Payne (Pickering, Ont.), Colin Reilly (Whitby, Ont.), Ryan Cullen (Pickering, Ont.), and Kevon Grant (Oshawa, Ont.).
On the field, It was a nervy start from both sides but the first chance of the game fell to Mariner Cole Senchar who sent a header just wide.
However it was Durham who opened the scoring when Lee found some space in the box before he smashed home his effort, beating Kevin Picard at his near post in the 17
th minute.
A second goal followed shortly afterwards in the 20
th minute after a scramble in front of the net saw Cullen make it 2-0 from close range sending the home crowd into pandemonium.
Following the break
Nick Spittle (Ajax, Ont.) went close in the 54
th minute when he looked to find the bottom right corner, but Picard did well to parry his effort wide.
Senchar then pulled one back for the 2017 champions in the 60
th minute after the ball dropped to him in the box and he tapped home to bring his team back into the game, trailing 2-1.
Durham quickly restored their two-goal lead in the 65
th minute when
Jose Flores (Ajax, Ont.) scored his second goal of the tournament in a near identical fashion to his first sending a free kick from a difficult angle on net to restore the two goal lead, 3-1.
VIU pushed hard for a way back into the game, and would eventually get their second goal in the 81
st minute when Michael Heppelle scored during a scramble in front of the Lords net.
After the late goal VIU continued to press hard, but the Lords stood firm at the back until the final whistle, clinching the national championship in front of the home crowd.
LeRohne Young (Oshawa, Ont.) was named the 4imprint Player of the Game for Durham, while Heppelle got the award for VIU.
CCAA Championship MVP
Joshua Lee, Durham
CCAA Exemplary Leadership Award
Michael Fayehun, Humber
CCAA Championship All-Stars
Joshua Lee, Durham
Shun Takano, VIU
Jared Leheta, Champlain Saint-Lambert
Taylor Richardson, Douglas Royals
Hugo Defresne, Champlain Saint-Lambert
Nick Payne, Durham
Colin Reilly, Durham
Diego Corlazzoli, VIU
Ryan Cullen, Durham
Grayson Chalifoux, VIU
Kevon Grant, Durham
Overall Record: 13-3-1 (W-L-D)
Conference Record: 7-1-0
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