VAUGHAN, Ont. - Humber College is the 2010 Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) women’s soccer champions after a 3-0 win over defending champion Fanshawe College on Saturday at the Ontario Soccer Centre in Vaughan, Ont.

The Humber Hawks will now represent OCAA at the Canadian Colleges Athletic Association (CCAA) women’s soccer championship in Edmonton next month.

Goalkeepers were the story of the game, even before the opening kickoff. Humber fifth-year netminder Rose Mary Ormeno (Toronto) was injured in the warmups, preventing her from playing in the championship. She was replaced in the starting line-up by first-year player Ashley Care (Toronto).

On the other side of the field, fourth-year Fanshawe goalkeeper Sarah King (Peterborough, Ont.) was the best defender for the Falcons early on, as she made a number of key stops against Humber forwards keeping the game scoreless.

The Hawks thought they got on the scoreboard early on a sequence of plays that began with a corner kick. Third-year forward Keyla Moreno (Toronto) got the ball past King, but the Humber celebration was short-lived as she was ruled offside on the play.

Shortly after, with bodies banging in front of the Fanshawe goal, fifth-year forward Samantha Batten (Stouffville, Ont.) finally put Humber on the scoreboard. King suffered a head injury in the melee, and was forced to the sidelines in favour of Kayla Sibbald (London, Ont.).

Humber immediately put the pressure on the new keeper, resulting in fifth-year forward Connie Tamburello (Toronto) scoring her first of two, giving the Hawks a 2-0 halftime lead.

King returned to the field in the second half, and continued to keep the Falcons in the game. But Tamburello stuck again on a booming shot from well outside the penalty box, all but sealing the championship for Humber.

King was eventually knocked out of the game once again, this time to a leg injury.

Humber first-year defender Jaime-Lyn Baggs (Mississauga, Ont.) and Fanshawe second-year forward Victoria Morelly (Newmarket, Ont.) were named players of the game.

For Humber, it is a second OCAA gold medal in three seasons. The Hawks also complete an undefeated season against OCAA competition with a combined record of 10-0-1. Their only draw came against Fanshawe in the regular season.

OCAA also named its all-tournament team following the game. Humber midfielder Sonia Rocha (Mississauga, Ont.) was named tournament most valuable player. Joining Rocha as tournament all-stars were Algonquin second-year goalkeeper Jennifer Kelly (Ottawa), Fanshawe’s Morelly and first-year midfielder Jaynie VanDeWalle (St. Marys, Ont.) as well as Humber’s Moreno.

An archive of the game can be seen on SportsLive.ca.

- OCAA -

ABOUT ONTARIO COLLEGES ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION

The Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) is a recognized leader in intercollegiate athletics in the province, dedicated to student athlete and sport development. The OCAA has 30 members sponsoring 16 league and tournament championships.

For additional information please contact:

Josh Bell-Webster
Marketing and Communications
Ontario Colleges Athletic Association
Tel: 416-426-7041
Fax: 416-426-7308
E-mail: bell-webster@ocaa.com