Unfit To Be Tied

Stingers Get Slighted By Officiating in 2-2 Draw with Laval

SportsJonathan Caragay-Cook — Published September 13, 2014

This was the theme of the Stingers men’s soccer team on Friday night as they drew a talented Laval team, 2-2.

Searching for their first win of the season, the Stingers had a poor first half. Laval comfortably dominated possession through the composed performance of their central midfielder, Wagane Ndour.

The first goal arrived via the penalty spot with 15 minutes remaining in the first half. The assistant referee waved his flag on the sideline after a collision between a Stingers defender and Laval attacker.

Laval forward Patrice Dion slotted the ball into the bottom right corner, sending Stingers goalkeeper Wes Aucoin the wrong way for the 1-0 lead. The crucial call was “pretty bad”, according to Aucoin.

“The first one was definitely not a PK,” said Aucoin. “I was pretty much on the ball and everyone was pretty pissed about that.”

Visibly upset, head coach Greg Sutton was dismissed off the field by the head referee following protests on the sideline.

“That’s out of passion,” said defender Stephen Metterisian about Sutton’s dismissal. “He wanted the best for the team and he would kill for the team.”

Potentially buoyed by their coach’s passion, the Stingers appeared like a different team in the second half.

In particular, Stingers wide midfielder Gabriel Quinn exploited space he received after a switch from the right to left side.

Surrounded by a group of Laval players inside their half, Quinn emerged from the scrum with a quick touch that led to a break-away. He calmly passed the ball past the goalkeeper to equalize.

A reenergized side, the Stingers pressure led to a costly Laval mistake.

Laval defender David Guyader played a back-pass straight to Stingers midfielder Nick Sisti, who was returning to an onside position. With only the keeper to beat, he drove a low shot into the bottom left corner for the 2-1 lead.

Controversial refereeing struck again on the second penalty kick for Laval. After Aucoin failed to claim a looping cross, a resulting scramble saw a Laval attacker fall down and the referee calling for a penalty shot. Dion again stepped up and scored for the 2-2 draw.

“These are two weak goals I find,” said Metterisian. “The ref said he was on the floor and he kicked him, but I was right there, and I think it was a blown call.”

“Even the first [penalty kick], that’s one of the worst PKs I’ve seen in a long time.”

Despite still being winless, the fourth year defender focused on the positives of tying a team who “came out with intensity and had the momentum.”

“At the end of the day, we played our game,” said Metterisian. “We kept to the game plan, executed it, and I think we did a good job.”

The Stingers are now 0-1-1 and will face UQAM on Sunday, September 14th at 5:00pm.