On a cold, wet November morning at Varsity Stadium, the Montréal Carabins put on an offensive clinic, defeating the UQTR Patriotes 5-1 to claim the bronze medal at the 2025 U SPORTS Men’s Soccer Championship. The chilly Toronto weather, with its persistent drizzle and grey skies, seemed to fuel the Carabins’ fiery start, as they built an insurmountable lead in the first half.
From the opening whistle, Montréal adapted to the slick conditions perfectly, moving the ball with precision on the rain-soaked pitch. They were rewarded almost immediately, as Omar El kalkouli found the back of the net just 1:59 into the game, stunning the Patriotes and setting the tone for the half. The Carabins’ pressure was relentless, and despite the snowy weather, they continued to pour forward. Sami McDuff doubled the lead in the 21st minute, and then completed his brace just before the half-hour mark to make it 3-0.
UQTR managed a brief response in the 31st minute, with Alexandre Marcoux finishing off a play assisted by Emile Boivin to cut the deficit to 3-1. However, any momentum the Patriotes gained was extinguished right on the stroke of halftime. In the final seconds of the opening period, Xavier Malo scored to restore Montréal’s three-goal cushion, sending the teams into the break with the Carabins leading 4-1.
The second half saw the match become a more fragmented affair. UQTR struggled to create chances against a disciplined Carabins defence, managing only a single shot on goal after the break. Montréal put the final exclamation point on their victory in the 68th minute when Quentin Touil scored, assisted by Wesley Wandje who recorded his second helper of the game.
The 5-1 final score was a fair reflection of the match, with the Carabins outshooting the Patriotes 17-7. Goalkeeper Olivier Rouleau earned the win with three saves for Montréal, while the grey sky served as a fitting backdrop for a game thoroughly controlled by the Carabins, who battled the elements and their opponents with equal success to secure a place on the national podium.