TORONTO - The Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) is proud to announce that Malachi Ramsay (Cambridge) of Conestoga College has been named its 2023-24 Male Athlete of the Year.
The fifth-year defender started all 10 regular season matches for the Conestoga Condors men's soccer outdoor program, scoring two goals. More importantly as a leader of their defence, the Condors did not allow a goal against in their first five matches, and in seven matches overall. Conestoga allowed a West Division-low five goals against the entire season, winning the division with a perfect 10-0 record. Ramsay was named a West Division First-Team All-Star.
The Condors continued their undefeated run in the OCAA post-season, with Ramsay making all four starts. Conestoga defeated the Niagara Knights 3-1, the Algonquin Wolves 4-1 and the Seneca Sting 2-1 to earn a berth in the OCAA gold medal match against the four-time reigning champion Humber Hawks.
Ramsay set the tone early, scoring on a loose ball off a corner kick in the opening 20 minutes of the match, and with a couple of insurance markers by teammates late in the second half, Conestoga secured its first gold medal since 1979. Ramsay was named OCAA Championship MVP.
Moving onto nationals, Conestoga opened the championship with a 1-0 win over the VIU Mariners, and looked to Ramsay for some heroics in the semi-final against the Aigles d'Ahuntsic. With the Condors squandering a 1-0 lead late in regulation, Conestoga was awarded a penalty kick during the added stoppage time.
Ramsay stepped up to the penalty spot with the hopes and dreams of sending the Condors to the national final. Ramsay placed the shot, and despite Ahuntsic's goalkeeper getting a piece of the kick, the ball found the back of the net sending Conestoga to the championship match.
The Douglas Royals and Condors gave the fans an eventful gold medal match. The contest had everything; fouls, goals, red cards, extra time and eventually penalty kicks. Deadlocked 1-1, the Condors dream of a perfect season ended in heartbreak, however, as the Royals dominated with four successful penalty kicks to Conestoga's one. With a national silver medal in hand, Ramsay was named a Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Championship All-Star.
Ramsay and the Condors moved onto the indoor soccer season the following semester. Conestoga ran the table at regionals with a 4-0 record, and was perfect in the round robin at provincials with a 3-0 mark. After defeating the George Brown Huskies 2-1 in the semi-finals, the Condors succumbed to the Humber Hawks 3-1 in the gold medal match, settling for silver. Ramsay was named a OCAA Championship All-Star.
Ramsay was honoured recently as Conestoga's Athlete of the Year as well as Athlete of Distinction, along with CCAA and OCAA All-Academic honours. Ramsay is the first-ever student-athlete from Conestoga to be named OCAA Athlete of the Year, and the seventh men's soccer student-athlete.
2023-24 OCAA MAJOR AWARDS
Apr. 9 - Gillian McCullough, Athletic Administrator of the Year
Apr. 10 - Timothy Lock, Male Rookie of the Year
Apr. 11 - Shade Hansen, Female Rookie of the Year
Apr. 12 - Luca Sirianni, Coach of the Year
Apr. 15 - Breanna Pretty, Female Athlete of the Year
Apr. 16 - Malachi Ramsay, Male Athlete of the Year
- OCAA -
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For over 50 years, the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association has been a dedicated leader in amateur athletics through the provision of quality varsity and recreational athletic opportunities at the collegiate level.
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Josh Bell-Webster
Marketing and Communications
Ontario Colleges Athletic Association
Tel: 416-426-7041
E-mail: bell-webster@ocaa.com