HAMILTON, Ont.-
Michael Pio's extra-time goal in the 113th minute lifted the Windsor Lancers men's soccer team to a major upset victory over the defending OUA champion McMaster Marauders in the OUA quarter-finals on Sunday afternoon at Ron Joyce Stadium.
With the win, the Lancers clinch a berth in the OUA Final Four next weekend, which will be hosted by the Ryerson Rams, and end The CIS No. 4 ranked McMaster's bid for a third straight conference crown.
After a scoreless first 45 minutes, the Lancers opened the scoring on a Cristian Mayorga free-kick from 25 yards out that sailed into the top-right corner of the goal in the 60th minute. However, McMaster drew even in the 74th, as David Serafini put home a penalty kick to notch the game at 1-1.
After concluding the second half and moving into extra-time, the contest looked to be headed for penalty kicks with just seven minutes remaining in the second of two overtime periods. However, after outrunning the McMaster defence, Pio used a chip shot over the incoming Marauders keeper to put Windsor ahead for the second time in the game.
The men would hang on until extra-time expired, booking their ticket to the Final Four, where they will have an opportunity to clinch a CIS national championship berth.
The Lancers will look to keep their Cinderella streak going as they take on the Ryerson Rams in the semifinals, who are the No. 2 ranked squad in the CIS. The Rams also notched an extra-time victory, defeating the Toronto Varsity Blues 3-2 on Sunday afternoon. The No. 3-ranked York Lions will cross-over against the Carleton Ravens in the Final Four's other semifinal. The winners of each semi will book a ticket to the CIS men's soccer championships in Fredericton, N.B. at the University of New Brunswick.