It's been a bit of a tough start to the season for the Nipissing Lakers men's soccer team, as they dropped their fourth game of the year Sunday afternoon in Sudbury.
The Lakers, playing the second leg of the Riley Gallo Cup and opening up the 705 Challenge, couldn't contain the speedy Laurentian Voyageurs and were outscored 3-1 in their lone game of the weekend.
The Vees came out flying, scoring just two minutes into the game to grab the lead.
They added to it just before the half hour mark, making it 2-0 and seemingly grabbing control of the first head-to-head matchup of the two teams.
The Lakers refused to go away, however, showing some grit as they cut the lead in half, scoring at the 35 minute mark.
Andy Bago scored his first goal of the season to pull the Lakers back into the game, as the two teams hit the halftime whistle with the score 2-1 in favour of the Voyageurs.
A back and forth second half didn't see much in the way of offence, despite the teams combining for 15 shots.
The lone goal came late in the game, with just under 10 minutes left, as the Voyageurs clinched the win, making it 3-1 in the 81st minute.
With the loss, the Lakers fall to 1-4-0 on the season, as they return home for two games this weekend in North Bay.
While it's only five games into the 16 game regular season, this weekend is a crucial one for Nipissing, as they have a chance to directly jump two teams – UOIT and Trent – as they sit ahead of the Lakers in the East Division standings.
Trent is sitting in the final playoff position, followed by UOIT and Nipissing, who are one point back.
Returning home is always a plus, but in this case, it's the opponents that have the Lakers excited and looking to get back on track.
UOIT is the visitor Saturday, while Trent is in town Sunday, the two teams the Lakers are chasing.
Combined in 2015, the Lakers went 2-0-2 against UOIT and Trent, earning a win and a tie against each of them.
The team, which is finally getting healthy, is looking for the same results this weekend, as they try to right the ship quickly.
Both games are set for 2:15pm Saturday and Sunday at the Education Centre Field, on the Nipissing University campus.
