PETERBOROUGH, Ont. - Fleming College plays host to the 2017 belairdirect Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) Men's Soccer Championship, beginning Thursday.
All three of last year's OCAA medalists return to the big stage, including the two-time defending provincial and national champions Humber Hawks, silver medalist Algonquin Thunder, and bronze winner George Brown Huskies.
Four OCAA quarter-final matches take place on Thursday, leading to Friday's semi-finals. The semi-final winners advance to Saturday's gold medal match, while the losing teams play for bronze. Losing teams in the quarter-finals compete in a consolation round.
The other five teams advancing to provincials include the host Fleming Knights, Durham Lords, Fanshawe Falcons, Niagara Knights and Sheridan Bruins.
The OCAA gold and silver medalists advance to the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association Men's Soccer National Championship in Nanaimo, B.C., from Nov. 8-11.
Durham (6-3-1, 2nd East) vs. Fanshawe (8-0-2, 1st West)
Thursday, Oct. 26 - 9 a.m.
The Fanshawe Falcons earned their berth to the OCAA provincial tournament with their first-place standing in the West Division. The Falcons are one of two teams not to have lost a match during the regular season.
Offensively, first-year striker Mike Sneddon (Mount Brydges) led Fanshawe with nine goals over 10 matches.
Durham advances to the OCAA championship thanks to a 3-1 road victory over St. Clair in the OCAA crossovers. Fifth-year midfielder Bruce Cullen (Pickering) scored the game-winning and insurance markers for the Lords.
Offence may be hard to come by in this match, as both Durham and Fanshawe allowed the second-fewest goals during the regular season, seven goals in 10 matches.
George Brown (6-3-1, 2nd Central) vs. Niagara (6-2-2, 2nd West)
Thursday, Oct. 26 - 12 p.m.
Two second-place teams during the regular season have a showdown for one of four spots in the OCAA semi-finals.
Reigning bronze medalist George Brown opened the floodgates in their OCAA crossover match with Redeemer, winning 7-0. Six different players scored, with fourth-year player Anthony Lombardi (Alliston) netting a pair. First-year forward Filipe Vilela (Toronto) who also scored led the Huskies with 10 goals in eight regular season matches.
Niagara defeated Toronto Mississauga 3-0 in its crossover, a team that George Brown could not defeat during the regular season with a loss and a tie. Fourth-year midfielder Jordi Amores (St. Catharines) scored twice in the victory.
This is a rematch of last year's bronze medal match, which George Brown won 4-3 by penalty kicks.
Sheridan (5-5-0, 3rd Central) vs. Algonquin (7-2-1, 1st East)
Thursday, Oct. 26 - 3 p.m.
Reigning silver medalist Algonquin got off to a slow start by its high standards, losing its first two matches before going undefeated in its final eight. The losses were significant as it ended a 50-match undefeated streak during the regular season.
Algonquin bounced back to win the East Division title again, thanks in large part to a stingy defence (allowing just eight goals against in 10 matches) and a dozen goals by first-year forward Malek Belhaj (Libya).
The Sheridan Bruins had an up-and-down campaign, but came alive for a 6-2 win over Centennial in the crossovers. First-year player Reshaun Walkes (Brampton) scored a pair of goals in the victory.
Fleming (3-6-1, 5th East) vs. Humber (10-0-0, 1st Central)
Thursday, Oct. 26 - 6 p.m.
The host Fleming Knights pulled the short straw, earning a date with the undefeated Humber Hawks to conclude the first day of play at provincials.
Fleming may have a sub-par record, but three of its losses during the regular season were by scores of 1-0. The Knights only lost by three goals once. They will be a tough out if underestimated.
Third-year midfielder Duncan Allen (Stouffville) and first-year forward Matthew Dawe (Tavistock) scored three goals each for the Knights during the regular season.
Humber is not just the cream of the crop in Ontario, but across the nation, having won four of the last five national championships. The Hawks have won six of the last seven OCAA gold medals. Having gone undefeated against Central Division opponents, the Hawks look to continue their momentum against the rest of the province.
Third-year players Luca Baldassarre (Woodbridge) and Jaineil Hoilett (Brampton) averaged a goal per match for the Hawks. Humber allowed a league-low four goals in 10 matches.
Championship Website: www.ocaa.com/championships/msoc/2017-18/index
Live Webcast: TBA
Championship Schedule
Thursday, October 26
Quarter-Finals
Game #1: Durham vs. Fanshawe - 9 a.m.
Game #2: George Brown vs. Niagara - 12 p.m.
Game #3: Sheridan vs. Algonquin - 3 p.m.
Game #4: Fleming vs. Humber - 6 p.m.
Friday, October 27
Consolation Round
Game #5: Loser Game #1 vs. Loser Game #2 - 9 a.m.
Game #6: Loser Game #3 vs. Loser Game #4 - 12 p.m.
Semi-Finals
Game #7: Winner Game #1 vs. Winner Game #2 - 3 p.m.
Game #8: Winner Game #3 vs. Winner Game #4 - 6 p.m.
Saturday, October 28
Consolation Final
Game #9: Winner Game #5 vs. Winner Game #6 - 9 a.m.
Bronze Medal Match
Game #10: Loser Game #7 vs. Loser Game #8 - 12 p.m.
Winning team presented OCAA Bronze Medal at conclusion of match
Gold Medal Match
Game #11: Winner Game #7 vs. Winner Game #8 - 3 p.m.
OCAA Gold and Silver Medals presented at conclusion of match
- OCAA -
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