The Algonquin Thunder (Ottawa) and Durham Lords (Oshawa) of the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) will be competing for a national medals on Saturday, November 9 at the 2007 Big Kahuna/adidas Canadian Colleges Athletic Association (CCAA) Men’s and Women’s Soccer Championships in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

The Algonquin College men’s soccer team qualified for their fourth consecutive national title match after going 2-0 in round robin action. The Thunder defeated the University of New Brunswick (Saint John) 5-0 in the opening game of the championship and secured their spot in the national title game with a 3-1 victory over Thompson Rivers University (Kamloops, BC) earlier today.

With Thompson Rivers and Algonquin knotted at one goal apiece with a title berth on the line, 2006 OCAA Athlete of the Year Loui Legakis scored on a free kick from 18 yards out giving the Thunder a 2-1 lead. Will Beauge, who scored a hat trick on Wednesday, added an insurance marker in the 89th minute, securing the two goal victory for the Thunder and getting the Thunder one win away from a national title. Mike Gagliano of the Thunder was recognized as the Player of the Game.

Algonquin will now meet Champlain Regional College of St. Lambert, Quebec in the gold medal game on Saturday at 3:00 pm (EST). It will be a rematch from last year’s championship final, as the Quebec provincial champions, who also went to 2-0 in round robin action, will be seeking revenge against their Ontario rivals as the Thunder took home the national title last season with a 4-0 gold medal victory. Algonquin will look to become the first Ontario College to win back-to-back men’s soccer national titles.

On the women’s side, the Durham Lords fell short in their national title run as they lost their final round robin match 4-2 against the Quebec Champion François-Xavier-Garneau College of Quebec City.

After defeating the host Mount Saint Vincent University (Halifax, NS) 3-0 on Thursday, the Lords were in a situation that if they defeated FX-Garneau, they would advance to the national title game.

Fans were treated to a very entertaining game as the pair of teams played with a lot of energy, trading scoring chances for the entire ninety minutes. FX Garneau managed to put an end to Durham's twelve-game shutout streak early in the match as they found the back of the net at the two minute mark to take an early 1-0 lead.

Playing from behind for the first time this season, 2006 OCAA Player of the Year Amanda Durno evened up the score as she buried a shot at the 17 minute mark of the first half. Ten minutes later, FX Garneau regained the lead as they scored on a low drive that found the left corner of the net, just out of the reach of Durham goalkeeper Ashley Visser’s outstretched arms.

Coming out of the locker room in the second half, FX Garneau scored a pair of insurance markers, increasing their lead to 4-1. Kristen Bodashefsky scored for Durham at the 76th minute to bring the Lords back within two goals, but it was too little, too late as the Quebec Champions secured their berth in the national title match. Bodashefsky was recognized for her efforts as she was named Durham’s player of the game.

Durham will now advance to their second consecutive appearance in the national bronze medal game as they are scheduled to meet the top ranked Capilano College of North Vancouver, BC on Saturday morning at 10:00am (EST). Durham will be looking to win their first ever national women’s soccer medal with a win against the British Columbia Champions.

MEN’S SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE AND RESULTS

Round Robin
Algonquin defeated UNBSJ 3-0
Algonquin defeated TRU 2-1

Medal Round
Saturday, November 10th
8:00 am - UKC vs. UNBSJ
10:00 am - Bronze Medal Game: TRU vs. Mount Royal
3:00 pm - Gold Medal Game: Algonquin vs. Champlain
All Times listed in Eastern Standard Time

Participating Teams
Algonquin College – Ottawa, ON
Champlain Regional College St. Lambert – St. Lambert, PQ
Mount Royal College – Calgary, AB
Thompson Rivers University (TRU) – Kamloops, BC
University of King’s College (UKC) – Halifax, NS
University of New Brunswick Saint John (UNBSJ) – Saint John, NB


WOMEN’S SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE AND RESULTS

Round Robin
Durham defeated MSVU 3-0
F.X. Garneau defeated Durham 4-2

Medal Round
Saturday, November 10
8:00 am - UKC vs. MSVU
10:00 am - Bronze Medal Game: Durham vs. Capilano
12:30 pm - Gold Medal Game: Mount Royal vs. FX Garneau
All Times listed in Eastern Standard Time

Participating Teams
Capilano College – North Vancouver, BC
Collège François-Xavier-Garneau (F.X. Garneau) – Québec, PQ
Durham College – Oshawa, ON
Mount Royal College – Calgary, AB
Mount Saint Vincent University (MSVU) – Halifax, NS
University of King’s College (UKC) – Halifax, NS


The OCAA governs intercollegiate sports and promotes physical activity in its member institutions through quality athletic and campus recreation programs. It offers 15 varsity sports to 30 member institutions throughout Ontario. For more information on the OCAA visit www.ocaa.com.

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FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Scott Dennis
OCAA Marketing & Communications
Phone: (416) 426-7041
Fax: (416) 426-7308
Email: dennis@ocaa.com