Carter Robart’s heroics bring Guelph United huge win
The last time Vaughan Azzurri lost a regular season match in League1 Ontario, it was the summer of 2019.
One pandemic, one cancelled season, and two and a half other seasons later, they did so again.
In a beautiful Father’s Day afternoon at the Centennial Bowl, Guelph United managed to defeat the 2022 champions, 1-0, after an incredible performance from Carter Robart, whose goalkeeping heroics kept Vaughan off the board, and brought Guelph 3 points that see us jump back up in the playoff spots.
Dion Stergiotis opened the scoring early, in the 11th minute, after a mistake in Vaughan’s defense. But, as time passed and Vaughan started creating more and more opportunities, it was Robart who stole the show. Save after save, our goalie denied clear-cut scoring chances from one of the best attacking teams in the league. More than 12 shots saved, many of them 1-on-1 opportunities, including one penalty, and there was never a more clear and obvious Man of the Match winner.
“I don’t think there are words to describe his performance. I don’t know what’s better than unbelievable”, said Guelph United head coach Justin Springer. “The amount of crucial saves that he made… there were probably 3 moments where he made back-to-back-to-back saves. To say that he was a crucial part of today’s win would be a massive, massive understatement.“
The 20 year old goalkeeper registered his 4th clean sheet of the season, although none of the others came in a more important and difficult match.
“Vaughan is one of the best teams in the league, this was one of those games where you try your best to do everything to get the win, and the guys in front of me were really working hard, so I really had to give it all to get the win tonight”, said Robart.
Guelph United, now in 6th place in a very crowded top of the League1 Ontario standings, will next travel to Whitby, to face Darby FC on Friday, before coming back home on Tuesday, June 27, for a match against Windsor City FC.
Guelph United - Vaughan Azzurri 1-0 (1-0)
Goals: Stergiotis (‘11)
Yellow cards: Stergiotis / Higgins.
Guelph United: Robart - Oakley, Ellis-Hayden, Fernandez, Gander - Stergiotis (‘71 Marchant), Greenhough, Vasconcelos (‘85 Sears), Yates - Agyemang (‘71 Shrimpton), Beader (‘88 Ostrun).
In the second game of the Father’s Day Doubleheader, Guelph Union managed to obtain a hard-fought draw against St. Catharines Roma Wolves. The result sees our ladies remain in 14th place, now 6 points behind the final playoff spot.
Union started the game slow, and the guests opened the scoring early, in the 6th minute, Maia MacLean taking advantage of some space in the middle of the defense. In the 24th minute, Guelph tied the game, through an amazing free-kick goal from Sydney Vanderhoef. The second half was also back and forth, the Wolves taking the lead once again through Demi Maroudas, before Justine Rodrigues tied the game for good, in the 74th minute.
Guelph Union has 2 more home games coming up next week. On Wednesday June 21, we are welcoming Tecumseh SC, before facing Vaughan Azzurri, on Sunday.
Guelph Union - St. Catharines Roma Wolves 2-2 (1-1)
Goals: Vanderhoef (‘24), Rodrigues (‘74) / MacLean (‘6), Maroudas (‘60).
Yellow cards: - / DiPasquale.
Guelph Union: Brenneman - Starcevic, Rodrigues, Ladhani (‘76 Bruce), Burke, Palermo (‘37 Sealy), Knafelc, Vanderhoef, Falkenstein (‘45 Boutros, ‘70 Marikano), Rizakos (‘62 Yantha), Hinchcliffe.