Trent Beats Fleming in the Battle of Peterborough

In the battle for rugby supremacy in Peterborough, the Trent Excalibur downed the Fleming Knights 29-7 Thursday, October 6 at the Nicholls Oval.

Tyler Bromshaw got Trent on the board first with an early try.  The Excalibur extended the lead minutes later as flanker Adam Anderson picked up the ball in a scrum and powered 15 metres for the score. Graham Abbott converted both tries for a 14-0 lead.

Fleming would answer before the end of the half when their full back powered his way through the Trent defence for the score. Ian Fuchs made a difficult kick from the touch line to convert the try and make the score 14-7.

Trent would score first in the second half. Steve Lebrun would pick up a loose ball in a scrum.  He would offload to Spencer Sheffield who passed off, allowing Bromshaw to score his second try of the contest.

With a Fleming player in the sin bin, the Excalibur would push the lead to 24-7.  Lebrun found an opening after Trent gained 15 metres in a maul and was able to get the ball into the try area for the score.

The Excalibur would round out the scoring in the 68^th minute.  Scrum half Spencer Sheffield made a 30 metre run before dumping the ball off to Matt Haystead who beat the defence for the score.

“The guys played well and Fleming is a tough team,” said Trent head coach Dave McCully. “We made some mistakes midway through the game, but we worked hard and were able to overcome it. I’m happy with the effort our players gave today.”

Time ran out on Fleming and the Trent Excalibur came away with a 29-7 win. By earning the victory, Trent improves their record to 1-2 while Fleming falls to 0-3. The Excalibur return to action when the host the Mohawk Mountaineers on October 16.

Women's Soccer Earns Season's First Victory

The Trent Excalibur women’s soccer team used a strong defensive effort, great goalkeeping and a timely goal to earn their first win of the season on October 8.  The Excalibur knocked off the Nipissing Lakers 1-0 Saturday to improve to 1-9-2 in the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) East division.

Neither team looked to push the pace in the first half, as much of the opening 45 minutes was back and forth.

The action heated up early in the second half.  Just two minutes into the half, the Excalibur were awarded a corner kick.  The ball was boomed in from the corner and Brittany Foerster was the first to get a foot on it for Trent.  Her shot was stopped by Nipissing keeper Kelly Van Boxmeer, but the
rebound fell right to Sarah Radford who deposited into the goal to give Trent the 1-0 lead.

Through the remainder of the half Nipissing pushed forward hard looking for the equalizer, but each time they were turned away by the strong defense of Natalie Selkirk, Emily Larkin, Danielle Curti and Jenn Powless.  On the rare occasion the Lakers got a ball through, Trent keeper Sarah MacGregor was up to the task, making several tough saves in the half.

“I’m happy for our players today,” said Trent head coach Joe Muldoon. “The team played a strong 90 minute game and they were rewarded with the win.  I’m definitely proud of the way we played today and the players’ effort was rewarded with a win.”

The win is the first for Trent since September 23, 2009 when they defeated the Royal Military College Paladins 2-1. Only four current Excalibur players, Curti, Larkin, Powless and Morgan Lyall-Ashby, were on the roster with the 2009 squad.

The next action for the Excalibur will be on October 12.  Trent will play host to the Ryerson Rams for a 6 pm kick-off at Justin Chiu Stadium.  The game will be the final home contest for the Excalibur.

Men's Soccer Downs Nipissing

The Trent Excalibur men's soccer team ever closer to clinching a play-off berth with a 1-0 win over the Nipissing Lakers on Saturday, October 8. The win moves the team comfortably into sixth place in the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) East division.  Should the Excalibur reach the play-offs they would become the first Trent soccer team in school history to reach the play-offs in consecutive seasons.

All it would take for the Excalibur was a second minute goal off the foot of veteran captain Matt Russell. Trent lined up for an early corner and after the ball was cleared to the top of the 18-yard box Russell was able to corral it. His first shot was blocked, but his second attempt at goal found its way through into the corner of the goal.

The remainder of the game was a back and forth, aggressive contest with five yellow cards handed out. In the second half the visiting Lakers pushed hard to score the equalizer. Trent keeper Josip Bosjnak was up to the task making 8 saves in total including a game-saving, diving stop in the 70th minute.

The win improves the Excalibur to 4-5-1 this season. Trent has four games remaining, with two at home and two on the road. This week, the Excalibur host the Ryerson Rams on Wednesday at 8:15 pm and the Toronto Varsity Blues on Friday at 3 pm. Both games will take place at Justin Chiu Stadium.