Golden Bears top Capers, Citadins edge Gryphons to advance to U Sports final

GUELPH, Ont. — Ajeej Sarkaria scored the tiebreaking goal late in the first half to propel the Alberta Golden Bears into the Canadian university men’s soccer final with a 2-1 win over the 10-man Cape Breton Capers on Saturday.

The Golden Bears, who last won a CIS championship in 2006, will face the UQAM Citadins in Sunday’s final. UQAM beat the Guelph Gryphons 3-2 in Saturday’s second semi.

Sarkaria, the Canada West Player of the Year, buried his shot in the 38th minute to complete the comeback win.

“We had high expectations coming into this season,” said Sarkaria. “Since August, we’ve been working hard every day. To be in this position, to get ourselves here, it means a lot. And we have to perform tomorrow.”

Tolu Esan also scored for third-seeded Alberta. Caelann Budhoo had the lone goal for second-seeded Cape Breton.

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The Capers went down to 10 men in the second half when defender Peter Schaale picked up a red card for a harsh tackle on Esan just outside the box. Schaaale will miss Sunday’s bronze medal match.

Cape Breton came close to tying the match in the 83rd minute. Stuart Heath smashed a shot from about 12 yards out that forced Alberta goalkeeper Connor James into a two-handed save. Marcus Campanile then headed a ball past James but hit the crossbar.

“I’m very proud of the boys in the way (they) reacted to going down to 10 men,” said Cape Breton coach Deano Morley. “We stayed organized and we created chance after chance. We were unfortunate not to get one.”

Alberta almost grabbed an early lead in the sixth minute from a corner. The ball bounced around in the area but Capers keeper Jamie Wilson secured it to end the threat.

Cape Breton went ahead on an 11th-minute goal from Budhoo, who put the past James from six yards out.

The Golden Bears found the equalizer in the 15th as Esan took the ball well near the top of the 18-yard box and slotted in a right-footed strike.

Sarkaria put the Canada West champions ahead for good 23 minutes later. Wilson made an initial save on an attack from the right touch line but the keeper redirected the ball to his right, where Sarkaria was left alone to send the ball into the back of the net.

In the second semifinal, Simon-Pierre Cote-Ko scored his second of the game in the 80th minute as the Citadins rebounded to beat Guelph after giving up a 2-0 lead.

Kevin Le Nours put UQAM on the board two minutes in and Cote-Ko added another in the seventh minute.

The Gryphons replied with goals from Tomasz Skublak and Josh Seguin in the 10th and 37th minutes respectively. The second half was scoreless until Cote-Ko buried his winning shot in the 80th.

The Canadian Press