The Ontario Colleges Athletics Association (OCAA) Round of 16 fixtures have been established for men's soccer, with eight sudden death matches taking place on Wednesday.
The OCAA soccer playoffs will take on a different format than years past. Eight teams in each division advance to the post-season, competing first in a intra-divisional qualifying round according to seeding, before advancing to an inter-divisional quarter-final on Saturday. The four remaining teams will advance to the OCAA championship, hosted by the top remaining seed.
Each game on Wednesday is a rematch of a regular season tilt played over the last six weeks.
Sheridan (5-5, 5th West) vs. Fanshawe (6-2-2, 4th West)
Wednesday, Oct. 18 - 3 p.m.
The Fanshawe Falcons and Sheridan Bruins will lock horns for the second time in 18 days, this time with the stakes that much higher.
These teams met on Sept. 30, with the Falcons pulling out a 2-1 road victory. Third-year midfielder Kyle Cameron (St. Catharines) scored a pair of unanswered goals late in the match, including one in the dying minutes. If the rematch is half as good, fans will be in for a treat.
First-year forward Kyse Majel (Newmarket) scored the lone goal for Sheridan against the Falcons.
Humber (7-1-2, 2nd West) vs. Mohawk (2-6-2, 7th West)
Wednesday, Oct. 18 - 4:30 p.m.
The four-time reigning OCAA champion Humber Hawks may not have won their division this year, but the drive for five is still alive. The Mohawk Mountaineers get the first crack at dethroning the champs.
At a quick glance, this may seem like a mismatch, but despite their record and separation in the standings, the Mountaineers managed to tie the Hawks 1-1 in their regular season meeting on Sept. 16. Second-year forward Hamza Salman (Hamilton) scored the equalizer for Mohawk in the 77th minute, one of three for the team leader in goals on the season.
Second-year forward Exosse Kadiebue (Kinshasa, DRC), who led the Hawks in goals with 10, scored Humber's lone goal against Mohawk.
Redeemer (3-7, 6th West) vs. St. Clair (7-2-1, 3rd West)
Wednesday, Oct. 18 - 5:30 p.m.
The St. Clair Saints are playing with house money this playoff as they will live to fight another day win or lose. As host of the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association Men's Soccer National Championship, the Saints receive automatic entry into the competition.
These Saints are no lightweights, however, scoring the most goals in the West Division this season with 41 to their credit. Four of those goals came against the Redeemer Royals in a shutout victory on Sept. 22.
Second-year forward Moussa Nizam (Windsor) led the Saints in goals with a baker's dozen on the season, while third-year defender Gerrit Oldejans (Dundas) was Redeemer's team leader with five.
Cambrian (3-6-1, 6th East) vs. St. Lawrence (6-2-2, 3rd East)
Wednesday, Oct. 18 - 6 p.m.
Another three-six match-up has the Cambrian Golden Shield visiting the St. Lawrence Surge.
This will actually be the third meeting between these squads having already played two contests in September. The Surge shut out the Golden Shield on both occasions, winning 3-0 and 1-0. Can the third time be a charm for Cambrian?
First-year midfielder Duarte Ventura-Olive (Brampton) and second-year forward Jacob Ball (Kingston) both scored twice against the Golden Shield. First-year striker Joshua Vivero (Toronto) has scored a team-high five goals for the Golden Shield this season.
Niagara (1-8-1, 8th West) vs. Conestoga (10-0, 1st West)
Wednesday, Oct. 18 - 7 p.m.
The Conestoga Condors enter the post-season one of two teams to win every match this season.
The Condors look to make it 11 in a row against a Niagara Knights team that they already took two games against already. Conestoga won 4-0 and 6-0 back in September.
First-year player Ricardo Alvarado (Cambridge) scored eight goals to lead the Condors this season. Niagara's first-year player Nate Smyth (St. Catharines) led the Knights with three goals.
Durham (6-3-1, 5th East) vs. Algonquin (6-3-1, 4th East)
Wednesday, Oct. 18 - 7 p.m.
In arguably the most exciting match-up in the opening round, two teams with identical records square off in Ottawa.
The match would have been in Oshawa if it wasn't for Algonquin's 1-0 win over Durham on Sept. 22. First-year striker Gershom Dupuy (Ottawa) scored in the 71th minute to give the Wolves the victory.
The Lords have been stingy on defence, allowing just five goals against all season. Durham's third-year player Garrett Werner (Ajax) was among the top goalkeepers during the regular season with a 0.71 goals against average.
Fleming (0-9-1, 8th East) vs. George Brown (10-0, 1st East)
Wednesday, Oct. 18 - 7 p.m.
The George Brown Huskies haven't won an OCAA men's soccer crown since the 1970s. After finishing on the provincial podium the past two seasons, the Huskies are primed to make a run at gold this season.
The Huskies outscored their opponents 62-4 in 10 matches. Their first round opponents, the Fleming Phoenix, felt the bite of the Huskies twice already, losing 12-0 and 8-0 back in September. The Phoenix will certainly have their work cut out for them.
First-year forward Matthias Broomes (Whitby) scored 13 regular season goals to lead George Brown. First-year midfielder Anthony Wonda (Bowmanville) scored two goals to lead the Phoenix.
Centennial (3-7, 7th East) vs. Seneca (6-1-3, 2nd East)
Wednesday, Oct. 18 - 8:15 p.m.
If there was a prize for the shortest distance to travel for a playoff game, it would go to the Centennial Colts who will make the short trek northwest.
Awaiting them is a Seneca Sting team who have won three straight and are unbeaten in eight matches.
These teams squared off a week ago, with the Sting prevailing 6-1. Second-year striker Michael Pellegrini (Richmond Hill) and second-year forward Adam Othman (Woodbridge) scored a pair of goals each in the match. First-year striker Konstantine Mpougiotis (Toronto) carries the offence for the Colts with seven goals.
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