ROYAL PAIN IN THE HUMBER

The Redeemer Royals have taken their indoor soccer prowess outdoors, something the Humber Hawks saw first hand last Thursday.

In a battle between the defending OCAA outdoor and indoor champions, the match ended in a 2-2 draw, a moral victory for Redeemer given that Humber is also the two-time defending national champions. Redeemer third-year striker Lewis Tuininga (Orillia, Ont.) scored in the 82nd minute to secure the tie.

Redeemer followed this draw with a 3-2 win over crosstown rival Mohawk to improve to 2-2-1 with three games remaining. Although they still have work to do, the Royals appear destined for a second consecutive post-season berth.

Despite the draw, Humber remains unbeaten through its first four matches, with a key meeting with Sheridan this Wednesday.

WHEN HAWKS AND BRUINS COLLIDE

This has likely not been a feature on National Geographic, but perhaps it should.

Sheridan and Humber are not only regional rivals with a yearly regular season match-up, they have also been playoff combatants the past four seasons. And although the results has been generally one-sided, the margin of victory has been razor thin.

A four-year summary is as follows:

Oct. 25, 2013 - Humber 1, Sheridan 0* (OCAA semi-final)
Sept. 21, 2013 - Humber 0, Sheridan 0 (regular season)
Oct. 26, 2012 - Humber 1, Sheridan 0 (OCAA semi-final)
Oct. 3, 2012 - Sheridan 1, Humber 0 (regular season)
Oct. 29, 2011 - Humber 1, Sheridan 0 (OCAA gold medal match)
Oct. 12, 2011 - Humber 0, Sheridan 0 (regular season)
Oct. 30, 2010 - Humber 2, Sheridan 1 (OCAA gold medal match)
Oct. 13, 2010 - Humber 2, Sheridan 1 (regular season)
* settled by penalty kicks

To summarize, Humber has a 5-1-2 record against Sheridan the past four seasons. Humber has defeated Sheridan in either the OCAA semi-final or final in each of the last four years. And a fact that Bruins players and fans must lament, Humber is the four-time defending provincial and two-time defending national champions.

Or to put it another way, Sheridan has been this close to a provincial or even a national championship.

But things are coming up Sheridan so far in 2014. Not only does it host nationals this November (meaning an automatic bye to the championship), it has an unblemished 4-0-0 record compared to Humber's 3-0-1 mark. The Bruins have outscored their opponents 25-2.

Whether the end result is Sheridan finally getting past their arch rivals is anyone's guess. But it will be fun to watch.

CHRONICLES OF SARNIA

The Lambton Lions continued its dream season with a 2-2 tie against St. Clair, improving to 2-0-1 and keeping its post-season hopes alive.

Then the Lions traveled to Sheridan. It wasn't pretty, as Lambton lost 7-1.

Despite the setback, Lambton is still very much in the playoff picture, with key home matches against Redeemer and Niagara this weekend. The Lions have not made the OCAA post-season this young century.

ZERO THOUGHTS

The Algonquin Thunder's string of shut out victories continued in Kingston, Ont., last Saturday with a 3-0 win over the host St. Lawrence Vikings.

Algonquin has outscored its opponents 13-0, and is the only OCAA team to not allow a goal this season. The Thunder have also extended their regular season unbeaten streak to 27 matches in the process.

Algonquin has three matches remaining this season, and can lock up a playoff berth with a win against Seneca this weekend.

GOLDEN BOOTS

First-year striker Richeal O'Neill (Sarnia, Ont.) scored in the 88th minute to lift the Lambton Lions to their 2-2 draw against St. Clair.

In the wildest finish of the week, second-year forward Danilo Richards (Kitchener, Ont.) looked to have pulled out a tie for Conestoga with a goal in the 86th minute. But first-year midfielder Tom Galazka (London, Ont.) responded to the equalizer with his third goal of the match in the 87th minute to lift Fanshawe to a 3-2 victory.

Redeemer fourth-year midfielder Josh Elgeti (Peterborough, Ont.) scored in the 60th minute to complete a two-goal deficit and give the Royals a 3-2 win over Mohawk.

First-year player Jaiden Miller-Foster (Brampton, Ont.) scored a pair of goals in Fleming's 4-2 triumph over Cambrian.

RECENT RESULTS

UPCOMING GAMES

Source: OCAA Communications