Nineteen teams will look to be pitch perfect beginning this Friday as the 34th season of Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) Women's Soccer commences.
Only one team is guaranteed to remain standing at the end of the regular season as the Cambrian Golden Shield, by virtue of being this year's championship host, earn a bye into the OCAA's elite eight. Cambrian is a worthy host, having been awarded the OCAA bronze medal in two of the past three seasons.
Which teams that be joining the Golden Shield will become much clearer in the upcoming weeks. A good bet is two-time reigning provincial champion Algonquin Thunder, a program which has not lost a regular season match since 2009. Last season, the Thunder allowed just two goals against in a dozen regular season matches. Algonquin has won gold at provincials in three of the past four seasons, its only blemish, a silver medal in 2014. The Thunder get the honour of officially opening the OCAA season Friday evening against the Loyalist Lancers.
Another team that has historically been up to the challenge is the Seneca Sting. Algonquin has squared off against Seneca in three of the past four OCAA gold medal matches, with the Thunder holding a 2-1 edge. The Sting were shut out of the medals last season, after losing to the eventual silver medalist Humber Hawks in the semifinals, and Cambrian in the bronze medal match. Seneca is looking forward to having Jamie Smith (Newmarket), reigning Central Division Defensive Player of the Year and OCAA All-Star, back in its line-up for 2017.
The aforementioned Hawks are coming off a successful 2016 campaign where they won outdoor silver and indoor gold. Historically, the program has won more OCAA outdoor gold medals than any other program with seven, and is the only team to three-peat, a mark Algonquin looks to match in 2017. Goalkeeper Vanessa Fiore (Brampton) was both a League and Championship All-Star for the Hawks last season, and remains a last line of defence for Humber. In the western part of the province, the Fanshawe Falcons have risen to the occasion, winning division championships each of the past two seasons. Selena Roberts (London), a 2016 OCAA league all-star, returns to the Falcons this season.
There has been a goal explosion in OCAA women's soccer in recent seasons, with the previous single season record of 20 being surpassed by three different players over the span of two seasons, including one player two times. Included in this list is Cambrian's Tiffany Johnson (Val Caron), who is the OCAA record holder for goals in a season (28) and career goals (62). She will look to add to her overall numbers in 2017.
A divisional realignment will take place in OCAA women's soccer this season, as Seneca will switch places with Cambrian, with the former joining the East Division and the latter moving to the Central Division. Conestoga and Niagara will change divisions as well, with the former joining the Central Division and the latter moving to the West Division. As a result, the only regular season meeting between 2016 OCAA medalists will take place on Sept. 16 and Oct. 15, as Cambrian plays Humber on these days.
The top four teams in each of the OCAA's three divisions advance to the post-season (if Cambrian places lower than fourth, then only the top three in the Central Division make the playoffs). Division champions plus Cambrian advance directly to the OCAA championship (or second-place team in Central Division if Cambrian places first).
2017 OCAA Schedule: http://ocaa.com/sports/wsoc/2017-18/schedule
2017 OCAA Rosters: http://ocaa.com/sports/wsoc/2017-18/rosters
2016 OCAA Regular Season Standings: http://ocaa.com/sports/wsoc/2016-17/standings
OCAA Records: http://ocaa.com/sports/wsoc/records
- OCAA -
ABOUT ONTARIO COLLEGES ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION
The Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) is the recognized leader in intercollegiate athletics in the province, dedicated to student-athlete and sport development. The OCAA has 29 members sponsoring 12 varsity 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