SUDBURY, Ont. – With one game remaining in the regular season, the UOIT men's soccer team moved into fourth place in the OUA eastern conference with a 1-0 victory over the Laurentian Voyageurs.
 
A win over Nipissing on Sunday would guarantee the Ridgebacks their first home playoff game in program history. If the Ridgebacks draw or lose, their placing will depend on other results across the league.
 
Saturday's game was a back and forth affair as both teams generated offensive opportunities early, but it was the Ridgebacks who struck first when Erik Petrovic (Sombor, Serbia) scored a nice header off of a Fabio Campoli (Frosinone, Italy) corner kick past the Voyageurs goalkeeper Connor Vande Weghe.
 
The quick tempo provided some exciting action at each end. The Voyageurs were able to generate opportunities in the offensive zone, but could not get away many shots on Nicholas Miller (Oshawa, Ont.).
 
The Voyageurs defensive line shut the door after the 12th minute tally, not allowing the Ridgeback offence much room to move in on Vande Weghe. In the one opportunity they did have, Vande Weghe won the one-on-one battle between the Ridgeback forward and himself, keeping it at a one-goal deficit.
 
The Voyageurs offence could not find the back of the net as the game ended in a Ridgebacks 1-0 victory, with Miller earning his fourth clean sheet while he sits in fourth in OUA save percentage.
 
Most of the game was played in the midfield as each team was only able to record two shots on target.
 
UOIT will close out the regular season against the Nipissing Lakers in North Bay on Sunday at 2:15 p.m. The Ridgebacks beat Nipissing 2-1 earlier this year.
 
QUICK LOOK AT THE RIDGEBACKS
Overall Record: 7-7-3
Conference Record: 7-5-3
 
Next Game: Sunday, Oct. 22 vs. Nipissing (2:15 PM – North Bay, Ont.)