By: Stephanie Taylor-Baptiste
In their pursuit to stay atop the East Division standings, the Algonquin Thunder men’s soccer team descended on Toronto Sept. 28 to take on Centennial and George Brown.
Centennial had a record of three wins, one loss when the Thunder rolled in on Sept. 28. When the storm abated, Algonquin left with a 2-0 shut out.
The Thunder sealed their win with a great pass from Saverio Panucci to Nelson Yoseke, who finished the Colts off.
“This was the best team we faced all year,” head coach Jimmy Zito said. “We could end up seeing these guys again at provincials.”
“Our first game against Centennial was a well deserved victory,” said Panucci, team captain and a second-year midfielder.
“We got the first goal of the game and it gave us more confidence throughout the rest of the game.”
On Sept. 29, they had a well-executed game against George Brown College. The Thunder scored first again, with a goal by Ryan Phillips, but then the Huskies tied it up early in the second half.
Jesse Falanga provided the go ahead goal from a penalty kick. But George Brown received a free kick, in the last three minutes, to tie the game at two.
“We defended well and it was a good team effort, but they got a last minute free kick and tied up the game,” said Panuccio
. “I know we should have gotten that win. Our team is full of confidence, and has a lot of potential”.
“That goal (free kick) really put our spirits down a bit,” said Zito.
“If we had won that game, we would have been set. We wouldn’t be in a must win situation next week.”
The Thunder take on rivals La Cite on Oct. 10, in the final regular season game of the year, for city bragging rights.
The top ranked Thunder is looking forward to this game.
“That game is possibly the biggest game of the year,” said Zito.