TORONTO - First there were 19.

Now there are only a dozen women's soccer teams in the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) that remain hopeful of a 2013 provincial championship.

Four of these clubs can dream for another week, as OCAA East champion Seneca College (8-0-1), East runner-up Algonquin College (7-0-2), OCAA West champion Humber College (5-1-2) and West runner-up Fanshawe College (5-1-2) earned well-deserved byes into the OCAA quarter-finals.

The remaining teams will all take the pitch on Saturday to determine who will also advance to the OCAA's final eight.

Teams will compete against division foes for one more match, as the third place club hosts the sixth-best team in their respective region, while the fifth seed visits the fourth. The winners will then crossover and visit those with byes in the opposite division.

The 2013 OCAA Women's Soccer Championship takes place at Sheridan College in Oakville, Ont., from Oct. 25-26.

La Cité (3-4-2, 6th East) at St. Lawrence-Kingston (7-2-0, 3rd East)
Saturday, Oct. 12 - 10 a.m.

There is no OCAA team that improved its fortunes more than St. Lawrence-Kingston in 2013. After winning just two matches a season ago, the Vikings were victorious seven times, including a 4-1 win over La Cité on Sept. 14.

The secret to beating the Vikings is simple: stop Sydney Midwood (Kingston). The fourth-year player led the OCAA in goals with 12 in nine matches. Midwood scored in each of St. Lawrence's victories. The Vikings were shut out in each of their losses.

By contrast, second-year striker Caroline Gratton (Ottawa) was La Cité's leading scorer during the regular season with two goals.

St. Lawrence's four-game win streak was snapped in its season finale at Algonquin. La Cité is undefeated in its last two matches. The winner visits Fanshawe in the quarter-finals.

Lambton (4-3-1, 6th West) at Sheridan (5-2-1, 3rd East)
Saturday, Oct. 12 - 12 p.m.

At first glance, it may seem that Sheridan has the advantage over Lambton based on the OCAA final standings.

Sheridan, however, lost 2-1 at Lambton back on Sept. 15. Lambton also has a win over OCAA West champion Humber on its résumé, so the Lions should not be taken lightly. Lambton's turnaround rivals St. Lawrence's, as the Lions won just one match last season.

Sheridan is led offensively by Kendra Cooper (Brampton) and Kayla McPherson Brassington (Brampton) who each scored four goals in eight matches. Lambton's Amy Wilson (Lambton Shores) also scored four goals to lead her team in scoring.

Sheridan is undefeated in its last four matches, while Lambton has won three straight. The winner will make a formable foe for Algonquin for the quarter-finals.

Mohawk (4-3-1, 5th West) at Conestoga (4-1-3, 4th West)
Saturday, Oct. 12 - 1 p.m.

Two teams that avoid facing red-hot Sheridan and Lambton will meet in Kitchener.

Conestoga is looking for a repeat of its 2-1 home win over Mohawk on Sept. 14. Conestoga closed its regular season on a positive note, going undefeated in its last three games.

After a slow start to the campaign, Mohawk is undefeated in five of its last six matches, although winless in two of its last three games. The Mountaineers are led offensively by first-year forward Rachelle DeJong (Ancaster) who scored six goals in seven matches.

Another first-year forward, Jennifer Farquhar (Waterloo), is Conestoga's leading scorer with four goals in eight matches. The winner visits Seneca in the quarter-finals.

Cambrian (4-4-1, 5th East) at Durham (5-2-2, 4th East)
Saturday, Oct. 12 - 5 p.m.

Cambrian visits Durham in the final women's soccer qualifying match.

These clubs met at Cambrian on Sept. 21 with Durham prevailing 5-1. Fifth-year midfielder Brittney Sero (Newcastle) earned a hat trick in the victory.

Two of the OCAA's top scorers will be on full display in this match. Cambrian first-year forward T.K. Rocca (Sault Ste. Marie) scored 10 goals in nine matches. Sero led Durham with eight goals in seven matches.

The winner travels to defending OCAA champion Humber for the quarter-finals.

- 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 29 members sponsoring 11 sports.

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