Ravens Fall to Gaels in Second Half Turnaround

Kingston, ON – For 45 minutes, Carleton had Queen’s exactly where they wanted them. Then the second half started.

The Ravens flew out of the gate, pinning the Gaels back and carving out early looks. Xavier-Etienne Patry tested the backline, Damiano Totten found pockets of space, and Marek Achadinha threatened as Carleton pressed high and with purpose.

Queen’s had no answer. The Ravens controlled the tempo, snapped into tackles, and choked off any hint of a counter. By halftime, Carleton had held the Gaels without a single shot attempt. It felt like a platform, the kind of disciplined away half you build a result on.

Then the game flipped in an instant.

Early in the second half, Luke Harrop was whistled for a foul in the box. Up stepped Damola Akanni, and he made no mistake from the spot, burying the penalty to give Queen’s a 1-0 lead against the run of play.

The goal rattled Carleton. The Gaels sensed it.

Moments later, Isaac Molouba pounced to double the advantage. Before the Ravens could reset, Sebastian Aguade struck again less than a minute later. Three goals in a dizzying spell, and a match Carleton had controlled was suddenly gone, 3-0 down “in the blink of an eye” on the scoreboard and in the body language.

To their credit, the Ravens didn’t fold.

In the final ten minutes they pushed bodies forward, searching for any lifeline. Achadinha rose well to meet a cross, but his header couldn’t find the net. Adrijan Vrankovic then carved out a chance of his own, only to see it come and go without reward.

No consolation, no late twist. Just a harsh lesson in how quickly a tight road game can unravel.

Carleton won’t have long to dwell on it. They’re back on the bus and back on the pitch Sunday at 4:00 p.m., away to Ontario Tech, with one clear question hanging over them: how do you respond after a half-hour that changes everything?