Simon says "Time to take charge" as Red-Socs rally to lick Laval

QUEBEC CITY - Alexander King of Detroit, Mich., came off the bench to tally twice, including the game-winner, and added an assist as 10th-ranked McGill rallied from a two-goal deficit to upset No.3-ranked Laval 3-2 in men's university soccer at Quebec City, Sunday.

The Rouge et Or were caught off-guard after taking a 2-0 first-half lead on markers by Louis-Charles Laliberte and Julien Pryol.

Undaunted, McGill came out firing in the second half. King converted a pass from veteran defender Thomas Lucas in the 62nd minute and the Redmen knotted the score five minutes later on Yohann Capolungo's effort that was set up by King.

The winning goal occured on a transition play in the 82nd minute, when Capolungo took the ball down the right wing and placed a perfect cross to King at the far post. The 5-foot-11 sophomore striker redirected the ball into the left corner with a left-footed volley past Laval 'keeper Thibault Lavêvre.

"Although we showed signs of positive play in the first haft, it is our bench played a key role in changing the game," said McGill head coach David Simon, who made three lineup changes at halftime, including the insertion of King into the game. "Despite being down by two, our guys came out strong, continued to push and were rewarded with successive goals. It was a total team effort but we will have to prove ourselves all over again next weekend."

The Redmen, who improved to 3-0, will host winless Sherbrooke (0-2-1) and the undefeated Montreal Carabins (3-0), Sept. 23 and 25, respectively.

Laval, which dropped to 2-1, will host UQAM (1-2-1) and play at UQTR (0-3-1) on the same dates.

SCORING SUMMARY

McGill 3, Laval 2

FIRST HALF:

1. Laval: Louis-Charles Laliberte (Serge Dinkota),  6:00

2. Laval: Julien Pryol (Gabriel Moreau), 43:00

SECOND HALF:

3. McGill: Alex King (Tom Lucas), 62:00

4. McGill: Yohann Capolungo (Alex King), 67:00

5. McGill: Alex King (Yohann Capolungo), 82:00

GOALTENDERS:

McGILL: Matthew Gilmour (W, 2 GA, 4 SVS, 90:00)

LAVAL: Thibault Lavêvre (L, 3 GA, 2 SVS, 90:00)

Shots Toward Net:

McGill 10

Laval 8

Shots on Net:

McGill 5

Laval 6

Fouls :

McGill 16

Laval 17

Crosses:

McGill 9

Laval 8

Corners:

McGill 8

Laval 6

Offsides:

McGill 6

Laval 1

CARDS:

Laval: Serge Dinkota (yellow, 39:00)

McGill: Axel Dovi (yellow, 75:00)

McGILL'S STARTING LINEUP:

GK; Gilmour

DEF: Damianou

DEF: Fouquet

DEF: Lucas

DEF: Allester

MID: Capolungo (sub by Pool at 89:00)

MID: Roughhead (sub by Hoyle at 46:00)

MID: Trotsky (sub by Valente at 75:00)

MID: Pool (sub by Marcon at 46:00

FOR: DovI (sub by king at 46:00)

FOR: Banks (sub by Monroe at 46:00; sub by DovI at 75:00)