TORONTO - With the debut of the University of Toronto Mississauga for the 2015-16 season, the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) has changed the league structure for both men's and women's outdoor soccer.

The league will be split into three separate divisions of six teams, with the exception of the women's east division which will have an additional seventh club. Teams will now play a double round robin format equaling 10 games, save for the women's east division, which will compete in a 12-game schedule.

The league was previously split into two east and west divisions with teams playing a single round robin totaling seven or eight matches.

The playoff format has also been altered to allow for eight teams to reach the OCAA championship. Similar to basketball and volleyball, the tournament host will earn an automatic entry into the championship. The three division winners will also earn a bye into provincials. A qualifying round will involve teams that finish second, third or fourth in the standings to determine the other four participants.

Teams in the east division include Algonquin College (Ottawa), Cambrian College (Sudbury, Ont.), Centennial College (Toronto), Durham College (Oshawa, Ont.), Fleming College (Peterborough, Ont.) and St. Lawrence College (Kingston, Ont.). The women's east division will also include Loyalist College (Belleville, Ont.).

The new central division will be made up of George Brown College (Toronto), Humber College (Toronto), Niagara College (Welland, Ont.), Seneca College (Toronto), Sheridan College (Oakville, Ont.) and the University of Toronto (Mississauga, Ont.).

Conestoga College (Kitchener, Ont.), Fanshawe College (London, Ont.), Lambton College (Sarnia, Ont.), Mohawk College (Hamilton, Ont.), Redeemer University College (Ancaster, Ont.) and St. Clair College (Windsor, Ont.) make up the west division.

OCAA league schedules for 2015-16 will be announced in June.

- 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 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