2005 FINAL LEAGUE STANDINGS

East (W -L-T)
Seneca (7-0-0)
Algonquin (6-1-0)
Durham (4-3-0)
George Brown (3-3-1)
Centennial (2-3-2)
La Cite (2-4-1)
St. Lawrence K (1-4-2)
Fleming P (0-7-0)


West (W -L-T)
Humber (7-1-0)
Mohawk (6-1-1)
Sheridan (5-0-3)
Conestoga (4-4-0)
St. Clair (4-4-0)
Redeemer (3-4-1)
Fanshawe (2-5-1)
Cambrian (1-7-0)
Lambton (1-7-0)

2005 CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS

Gold: Algonquin
Silver: Seneca
Bronze: Mohawk

THIS WEEK IN THE OCAA
Welcome to the start of the OCAA Men’s Soccer League. Cleats will be tearing up the Soccer Pitch this upcoming week as the 2006 OCAA Men’s Soccer season kicks off this Friday September 15 as the St. Clair Saints host the Fanshawe Falcons at 5:00pm and the Conestoga Condors host the Sheridan Bruins at 5:00pm. The Defending champion Algonquin Thunder are set to kick off at home against the George Brown Huskies on September 22.


2006-2007 MEN’S SOCCER TEAM PREVIEWS

EAST REGION

Algonquin
2005 Regular Season Record: 6-1-0 (2nd – East)
2005 Post Season Record: 3-0 (Gold)
Championships Won: 6

Entering his sixth season at the helm of the Algonquin Thunder Men’s Soccer program, Head Coach Stephen O’Kane continues to build a solid and competitive program as he looks to achieve back-to-back titles this year. The Thunder completed an excellent season last year, finishing league play second in the East then winning the OCAA Championship title for the programs sixth year and topped it off with a CCAA silver medal.

This season the Thunder roster is filled with new names as the team welcomes only seven returning players from last year’s championship squad. The Thunder frontline will have some difficulty as they face the departure of 2005 East Region Scoring Champion Vedran Fustar. The Thunder will have to look to 2005 All-Stars Mike Gagliano and Joe Maneiro to help lead the team. Second-year Edwin Moran returns this year to anchor the midfield and will look to rookie Corey O’Connell to contribute in the position as well. Also look for two more newcomers, striker Drhan Akkaya and defender Ericksen Bailey to help make an immediate impact on the field. If the team looks to continue it’s winning ways they will have to maintain their impressive defensive play that saw only three goals against them in their seven regular season games last season. The Thunder hit the field on September 22 at home against the George Brown Huskies at 7:00pm.

Centennial
2005 Regular Season Record: 2-3-2 (5th – East)
2005 Post Season Record: DNQ
Championships Won: 0

The Centennial Colts finished last season fifth in the East and almost qualified for the OCAA Men’s Soccer playoffs with a 2-3-2 record. Last year the Colts had a rough start to the season going 0-3 in their first three games of the season. For the Colts to climb the leader board and contend for a playoff spot, they need to find a more consistent offense to match their steady defensive play. Centennial hopes that last years returning class of players, which had a youthful 12 first-years, mixed together with a talented class of recruits will bring success to the team in 2006. Centennial is set to start the season at home as they host the St. Lawrence Vikings on September 16 at 4:00pm.

Durham
2005 Regular Season Record: 4-3-0 (3rd – East)
2005 Post Season Record: 0-1
Championships Won: 3

As Durham Lords Head Coach Stan Bambino enters his ninth year at the helm of the team, the Lords are expected to remain a consistent contender in the OCAA. The Durham Lords will be looking for a similar start to the season as last year, after they went 3-0. Looking to lead the charge for the team this year will be a trio of midfielders consisting of Daniel Dalton, Ryan Moore and Jordan Callaghan. The season starts for the Lords at home as they face the Fleming Knights on September 19 at 8:00pm.

La Cite
2005 Regular Season Record: 2-4-1 (6th – East)
2005 Post Season Record: DNQ
Championships Won: 0

The La Cite Coyotes will be looking to bounce back from a disappointing 2005 sixth place finish in which they failed to qualify for the post season. This year the Coyotes season is looking positive as they can rely on the experience of 12 returning players to the pitch to help lead the team. The team’s most stable position is goalkeeper where Matthew Lemieux and Francis Breault return between the pipes. Last season the two goalkeepers held their opposition to eleven goals. Offensively, a pair of rookies will try and help out the Coyotes lineup. Striker Emilio Avalos Mendes and Midfielder Jean-Francois Racine will look to contribute to the team in their first year in the OCAA. La Cite opens their season with a trip to Toronto to take on the George Brown Huskies September 17 at 1:00pm.

George Brown
2005 Regular Season Record: 3-3-1 (4th – East)
2005 Post Season Record: 0-1
Championships Won: 2

Last season George Brown Head Coach Lucky Boothe won the OCAA East Region Coach of the Year award as he lead the Huskies to their first playoff appearance in 10-years of competition. The Huskies will return three of their top starters from last season. They will look for leadership on and off the field from captain and 2005 All-Star midfielder Richard Kirwin who averaged 0.50 GPG last season. The Huskies will also rely on returning starter Luca DeMontis in the midfield. Defensively, the 2006 edition of the team will count on Frederick Sam to solidify a defense that allowed in only ten goals in 2005 (3rd in the East for goals against). Overall the season looks hopeful for the Huskies to make a repeat performance and qualify for the post season. La Cite will travel to Toronto to take on the Huskies in their first game of the season on September 17 at 1:00pm.

St. Lawrence, Brockville
2005 Regular Season Record: N/A
2005 Post Season Record: N/A
Championships Won: 0

St. Lawrence Brockville enters OCAA men's soccer as the ninth team in the East region. The Schooners will be put to the test right away as their first opponent will be the 2005 East region Champion Seneca Sting on Saturday, September 16 at 4:00 in North York. Head coach Eric Pattison will lead the way for the first-year Schooners and will look to build a program that is successful for years to come. Men's Soccer is St. Lawrence Brockville's only league sport in the OCAA.

St. Lawrence K
2005 Regular Season Record: 1-4-2 (7th – East)
2005 Post Season Record: DNQ
Championships Won: 0

The St. Lawrence Vikings have at least fifteen good reasons, as in the number of returning players, to believe they’ll be off to a good start this season. Vikings Head Coach Leslie Lawlor believes his team has a good chance to improve from last year and make a run at the post season. Among the fifteen returning players look for Ian Branco and Jean Marc Moncion to make their contributions on the offensive end and Dan Marques to lead the defensive push. After fifteen-years Vikings Head Coach Nejat Agaoglu retired this past season and with new head coach Leslie Lawlor taking over the helm the team is very upbeat and positive about their season.

Fleming P
2005 Regular Season Record: 0-7-0 (8th – East)
2005 Post Season Record: DNQ
Championships Won: 0

The Fleming Knights are looking to rebound from a disappointing 2005 season with a new attitude in 2006. The Knights will be looking to move up the OCAA standings and become a more competitive team in their East Region this season. To do this, the Knights need to come up with a more consistent offensive attack as they scored only two goals out of seven games played last season. The Knights open their season in Oshawa versus the Durham Lords on September 19 at 8:00pm.

Cambrian
2005 Regular Season Record: 1-7-0 (8th – West)
2005 Post Season Record: DNQ
Championships Won: 0

The Cambrian Golden Shield look to improve on last season’s disappointing campaign and work their way into the OCAA playoff race. Cambrian opened their 2005 campaign with a win over the Lambton Lions, but were unable to build off that success as they lost their next seven games. Scoring was Cambrian’s Achilles heel as they had the worst output of goals in the West region. The Golden Shield will look for leadership from their returning players and some new talent from their rookie class to improve on last year’s 1-7 record. Cambrian will kickoff their season on a western road-trip on the weekend as they square off against the Lambton Lions and St. Clair Saints.

Conestoga
2005 Regular Season Record: 4-4-0 (5th – West)
2005 Post Season Record: DNQ
Championships Won: 1

The Conestoga Condors Men’s Soccer Team has been getting closer and closer over the last few years to getting to the post season. The Condors have not qualified for the playoffs since their Championship in 1979-80 but are working their way towards just that goal. This season the Condors will need to continue their impressive offensive expertise that saw them score the second-most goals in the West with 23 goals in eight games. This year the Condors look promising again and will try and improve and carry over the momentum from their .500 season in 2005. Conestoga has a difficult draw opening it’s season against the 2005 defensive team of the Year Sheridan Bruins on September 15 at 5:00pm.

Fanshawe
2005 Regular Season Record: 2-5-1 (7th – West)
2005 Post Season Record: DNQ
Championships Won: 5

The Fanshawe Falcons went through a rebuilding year in 2005 as they went from 5-1-2 in 2004 to 2-5-1 last season. Coach Paul D’Hollander will look to lead the Falcons back to the top of the West Region standings this year with a good crop of veterans returning along with key recruits joining the team for their freshmen year. Defender Adam St. Laurent and Striker Greg Remijn (both all-stars in 2005) will be called upon once again to lead the Falcons. Opposing teams must be aware of Remijn’s offensive talent, as he netted 8 goals in 8 games during his rookie season. Other key returning players include defender Larry Ferriera and midfielder Ardit Murataj. The Falcons have made a point to add some depth to their midfield by adding key recruits Ahmed Birani and Fide Villanueva. Fanshawe will travel down the 401 to Windsor in their first match of the year as they face the St. Clair Saints on Friday, September 15 at 5:00pm.

Humber
2005 Regular Season Record: 7-1-0 (1st – West)
2005 Post Season Record: 2-1 (Bronze)
Championships Won: 5

The Humber Hawks Men’s Soccer Team has been taking a series of steps closer and closer to the Championship title over the last few years. After a bronze medal performance in 2005 and a silver medal performance in 2004, the Hawks have established themselves as a force to be reckoned with in the OCAA. Last season, the Hawks won the West Region title with a convincing 7-1-0 record but fell in the semi-finals 5-4 to the Algonquin Thunder who went on to win the Championship. This season the Hawks look to maintain their strong offense that netted 33 goals last season and their defense that held the competition to only 9. Humber will open their season on the road in London when they kick-off their season against the Fanshawe Falcons September 23 at 2:00pm.

Lambton
2005 Regular Season Record: 6-1-1 (9th – West)
2005 Post Season Record: DNQ
Championships Won: 0

With the most youthful team in 2005 in the West Region (15 rookies), the Lambton Lions struggled only managing to get one win throughout the season. Lambton hopes that the returning class of players mixed together with a talented class of recruits will bring success to the team in 2006. The Lions will look to move up the West region standings and try enter the playoff mix this season. The Lions will host the Cambrian Golden Shield on Saturday September 16 at 3:00pm

Mohawk
2005 Regular Season Record: 6-1-1 (2nd – West)
2005 Post Season Record: 2-1 (4th)
Championships Won: 5

After a bronze medal performance in 2004 and a fourth place finish last year, Mohawk looks to build on that success and get into the gold medal game this season. Offense was Mohawk’s main strength last season, netting 21 goals in eight games. This season, it’s the start of a new beginning for the Mountaineers Men’s Soccer Team as the squad enters the 2005 campaign with only 6 returning players from last season. Defensively the Mountaineers will rely on 2005 CCAA Athlete of the Month Scott McLeod to play a large role and returning starter Matthew Gera to anchor the midfield. Mohawk starts the season at home as they host the Sheridan Bruins on September 20 at 4:30pm.

Redeemer
2005 Regular Season Record: 3-4-1 (6th – West)
2005 Post Season Record: DNQ
Championships Won: 0

The 2006 campaign for the Redeemer Royals brings a more experienced group of Royals to the table under seventh year head coach Dave Mantel. The Royals start the season with some optimism following a great finish last season. This year the squad will look for leadership from their 11 returning players and some new talent from a solid rookie class. Leading the charge this season will be veteran Goalkeeper Dave Sinke, Striker Nick Bokma and Midfielder Dave Devries. Out of the incoming rookie class Midfielder Joel VanAndel is expected to make an immediate impact on the field. Redeemer will host the Fanshawe Falcons on September 19 at 4:30pm to kick off their season.

Seneca
2005 Regular Season Record: 7-0-0 (1st – East)
2005 Post Season Record: 2-1 (Silver)
Championships Won: 8

The 2006 edition of the Seneca Sting Men’s Soccer Team are well on their way to another successful season. Last year, the Sting were the only undefeated team in the league during the regular season and finished the year with a silver medal after falling to the Thunder in a tough 2-1 final decision. Seventh year Head Coach Vito Colangelo leads a youthful team that had 12 rookies last season. Seneca hopes that the returning class of players mixed together with the veterans will bring success to the team in 2006. If the team looks to continue its success they will have to maintain their stellar defensive play from last season that saw them allow in only five goals in their seven regular season games. The Sting will be the first team to face off against the St. Lawrence Schooners who enter the league for their first year of competition in 2006. The game is scheduled for September 16 at 4:00pm.

Sheridan
2005 Regular Season Record: 5-0-3 (3rd – West)
2005 Post Season Record: 0-1
Championships Won: 3

The last two years have been important transition years for the Sheridan Bruins Men’s Soccer Team with the introduction of new head coach Tony Silvestri. By all accounts it was a successful year last season as the team picked up several accolades including Top Defensive Team, Rookie of the Year and CCAA Coach of the Year Nominee Honours. The 2006 edition of the team looks decent to make a push into the post season, but with only five returning players the Bruins will need a solid rookie class to step up to the pitch. Leading the pack of returning players to watch out for includes Team Captain Mario Kulis who will transition between Midfield and Defence depending on where the team needs him most. A group of newcomers, led by Shaun McDonald (defender/midfield), Tristan Scott (midfield) and Dalibor Duspara (striker) will also push for playing time. This year the squad will look to win their first title since 1992-93 in front of a home field crowd as the Bruins host the 2006 Championships from October 27-28. But first the Bruins will commence their run at the post season by kicking off the season in Kitchener against the Conestoga Condors on September 15 at 5:00pm.

St. Clair
2005 Regular Season Record: 4-4-0 (4th – West)
2005 Post Season Record: 0-1
Championships Won: 0

The 2006 edition of the St. Clair Saints Men’s Soccer Team has all the ingredients for a very successful season. The Saints return nine players from last season that can help the team go toe-to-toe with any of their rivals in the West Region. Head Coach Mike Baraslievski hopes his team can improve on their fourth place finish in the West last season. The Saints return 2005 All-Star forward Benjamin Khalfan who averaged 1.0 GPG last season. Khalfan is a threat anywhere on the field and should take much attention off returning forward Joseph Mastrogiacomo, allowing for more scoring opportunities all around. In the back, Michael D’Amore returns and will help rookie Tony Crnjac make an immediate impact defensively. Also look for the addition of talented rookie Sasa Markovic to bolster the midfield. St. Clair begins their 2006 campaign with a match-up against the Fanshawe Falcons at home this weekend on September 15 at 5:00pm.