Stingers eke out grid win 

The sixth-ranked Concordia Stingers football team narrowly defeated the Bishop’s Gaiters 20-18 before an opening night crowd of 3,500 fans at Concordia Stadium in Montreal on Sept. 7.

The Gaiters tested Concordia’s limits most of the game. First they jumped out to a 3-0 lead on a 13-yard field goal by Josh Maveety at 4:47 of the first quarter. The Stingers tied the game on a 17-yard field goal by rookie kicker Rene Paredes to make the score 3-3 at halftime.

In the second half, the teams traded punches with Concordia, getting touchdowns from fullback Blair Yachetti on a three-yard run and from wide receiver Cory Watson on a four-yard catch. Striking for the Gaiters were Steve Turner, who took a kickoff return back 108 yards, and running back Jamal Lee, who scored from one-yard out.

In the end, the difference was kicking, as Paredes came through for Concordia with a 27-yard field goal at the start of the fourth quarter.

The Concordia will play across town at the Université de Montréal this Saturday, Sept. 15, at 1 p.m. Tickets range from $4 to $10, and children under 12 are admitted free. For season tickets or advance tickets, call (514) 848-2424, ext. 3898.

Men’s cagers best a Big Ten: The Concordia Stingers men’s basketball team beat a U.S. ‘Big Ten’ basketball team, the Fighting Illini, in an exhibition game at the Concordia gym on Sept. 2. Dynamic brothers Dwayne and Damian Buckley, seen in action here, led the Stingers to their 86-82 win before a sold-out crowd. Magnifying glass

Men’s cagers best a Big Ten: The Concordia Stingers men’s basketball team beat a U.S. ‘Big Ten’ basketball team, the Fighting Illini, in an exhibition game at the Concordia gym on Sept. 2. Dynamic brothers Dwayne and Damian Buckley, seen in action here, led the Stingers to their 86-82 win before a sold-out crowd.

Former Stinger Benjamin dead at 46

Concordia Sports Hall of Famer Nick Benjamin died this summer following a lengthy battle with kidney disease.

The affable former Stinger was one of the greatest players to wear a Concordia Stingers football uniform. An offensive tackle, he was known for his aggressive play and speed. At 285 pounds, he could run 40 yards in 4.89 seconds.

His prowess attracted the attention of professional teams, including the NFL’s New York Giants, who came to Concordia to work him out. Benjamin was first overall by the Ottawa Rough Riders in the 1985 CFL draft. He spent nine years with the Rough Riders and Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

In 1985, he was named the Schenley Rookie of the Year in the East. Nick was a CFL all-star in 1988. He played in three Grey Cup games and was a member of the 1990 Grey Cup champion Blue Bombers. Nick went on to establish a post-football career in Winnipeg as an entrepreneur and youth care worker.

Benjamin was inducted into the Concordia Sports Hall of Fame in 2005. His 1982 championship team will be inducted into the hall this month. The team will also be honored at halftime of the Homecoming football game on Sept. 29.


Lloyd Barker named soccer coach

Former Impact star Lloyd Barker will take over as coach of the Stingers men’s soccer team. Well known to Canadian soccer aficionados, he played professional soccer for 15 years, including 10 seasons as a star player with the Montreal Impact.

During his time with the Impact, he won two league championships and three regular season titles; in 1996 he was the club’s leading scorer. He also played with the Ottawa Intrepid and the Toronto Lynx, and was Jamaican national champion in 1994.

Barker succeeds Vladimir Pavlicik, who now oversees Le Gym, the new fitness centre on the Sir George Williams campus. His title is Associate Director, Campus Recreation.

The Stingers will open the Quebec university soccer season in Trois-Rivières tomorrow, Sept. 14, and host the Laval Rouge et Or on Sept. 16 at 2 p.m.

 

Concordia University