Les Rouges Rain on Blazers Men's Soccer's Home Opener Parade
Reigning MCAC Rookie of the Year Nicholas Pavao (centre) couldn't keep the goal train coming as the Blazers were held scoreless for the first time this campaign
Canadian Mennonite University faced a challenging match against St. Boniface on Wednesday, resulting in a 2-0 loss, with both teams entering the contest boasting undefeated records to kick off the 2026/27 season. Despite their efforts, CMU was unable to reduce the deficit, even as they successfully defended against four St. Boniface attacking actions from 75:05 to 80:42 without conceding any additional goals while trailing by two.
Throughout the match, CMU found themselves needing to defend against multiple attacking sequences from Les Rouges, including an early stretch when the game was still scoreless, during which St. Boniface managed to take three shots and earn a corner kick without finding the back of the net. Later in the game, after St. Boniface had taken a 2-0 lead, CMU once again held strong, preventing the visitors from scoring during a sequence of four attacking actions in the second half. The Blazers also navigated a first-half period marked by four cards and no fouls charged to the home side.
St. Boniface ended the match with a 12-7 advantage in shots, successfully placing eight attempts on goal, while CMU managed to put two of their seven shots on target. Nicholas Peterson, playing in goal for CMU, made six crucial saves. Siem Petros was a key player for the Blazers, leading their attack with three shots, one of which was on goal, while Ismail Karim also contributed with a shot on frame.
In the first half, St. Boniface held a slight edge in shooting, outshooting CMU 6-5 and putting three attempts on goal compared to CMU's one. Randy Gborie's successful penalty kick at 23:25 accounted for the scoring, while Peterson made two saves, and Tristen Holfeld came close to scoring by hitting the crossbar before halftime.
During the second half, CMU was outshot 6-2, with Peterson making four saves as Les Rouges put five attempts on target. St. Boniface scored the only goal of the half at 63:15, extending their lead to 2-0, but CMU managed to maintain that scoreline through a late stretch that included four St. Boniface shots from 75:05 to 80:42.
Peterson, who played all 90 minutes in goal, recorded six saves. Petros led CMU with three shots, including one on frame.
Currently, CMU holds a 1-1-0 record both overall and in conference play, while St. Boniface boasts a perfect 3-0-0 record overall and in conference play. Notably, CMU had previously defeated St. Boniface in the 2025 MCAC Championships semifinal.
Looking ahead, the Blazers are set to host BU on Saturday, Sept. 19, at 1:00 PM at the Ralph Cantafio Soccer Complex.
