Ontario’s top four female collegiate soccer teams will compete in Ottawa this weekend in a quest to capture the provincial title at the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) Women’s Soccer Championship from October 26-27 hosted by Algonquin College. Algonquin last hosted the provincial championship in 2005, shortly after the grand opening of the soccer specific Algonquin Athletic Field Complex.

The Algonquin Thunder (Ottawa), Durham Lords (Oshawa), Fanshawe Falcons (London) and Humber Hawks (Etobicoke) were victorious in their qualifying matches over the weekend, advancing to the Championship. The semi-finals will kick off with the defending champion Durham Lords facing the Fanshawe Falcons on Friday at 11:00 am while the West Region champion Humber Hawks will square off against the host Algonquin Thunder in the second match at 2:00 pm.

The defending champion, Durham Lords (9-0-0), enter as the number one ranked team in Canada and hope to win their fourth OCAA title in five years. In nine games this season, the Lords have not given up a single goal with veteran goalkeeper Ashley Visser recording nine shutouts vs. OCAA opponents. The last goal Durham has given up was in the gold medal game last season when the Lords defeated Algonquin 4-1 in Mississauga. Durham also boasts the league’s top offense, scoring 42 goals during the regular season. Katie Szeghalmi and Brittany Micucci were the top two goal-scorers in the OCAA scoring 12 and 11 goals respectively. Durham won their sixth consecutive East Region title, establishing their dominance in women’s soccer.

In a rematch of last year’s semi-final match, the Lords will have a tough task ahead of them as they square off against the Fanshawe Falcons on Friday at 11:00 am. The Falcons are 5-1-2 and finished the year second in the West Region. Goalkeeper Sarah King lifted the Falcons to their fifth shutout of the season defeating the Seneca Sting 4-0 in the qualifying round. Fanshawe defender Emily Costello (2006 CCAA All-Canadian) will be looked upon to halt the Lords’ high powered offensive attack. If Fanshawe hopes to reclaim the provincial title they won in 2005, their offence will have to play as they did in the qualifying match where they scored four goals, a dramatic increase compared to an average of 1.4 goals per game during the regular season

The Humber Hawks won their second consecutive West Region title going 6-0-1 during the regular season. The Hawks sported a well-balance attack, scoring 22 goals to lead the West Region while allowing only four goals against, including six shutouts. A pair of dangerous strikers will be leading the offensive attack for the Hawks as forwards Holly Goddard and Connie Tamburello led the West Region in scoring averaging 0.71 GPG. Veteran goalkeeper Emily Curcuruto has been excellent between the pipes this season but she will have a tough task when facing the top teams in OCAA women’s soccer.

The Humber Hawks defence will be challenged in their opening match as they are set to take on the Algonquin Thunder on Friday at 2:00 pm. The Thunder return to the OCAA Championship for the second consecutive year after missing out on the 2005 Championship. The Thunder had a great year going 7-1-0 during the regular season and defeated the Mohawk Mountaineers 4-1 in the qualifying round. The Thunder also gave the undefeated Durham Lords trouble in their regular season meeting, dropping a tight 1-0 decision. 2006 Rookie of the Year Sam Blais had a terrific sophomore season, finishing fourth in league scoring with eight goals during the regular season. Rookie goalkeeper Melissa Urquhart will lead the defence which had an outstanding season allowing only two goals. Algonquin shutout the Hawks 1-0 last season in the OCAA Championship semi-finals, going on to finish in second place.

CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE:
All games @ Algonquin College

Thursday, October 25, 2007
OCAA Championship Awards Banquet – Algonquin College – 6:00pm

Friday, October 26, 2007
Semi-Final #1: Fanshawe vs. Durham – 11:00 am
Semi-Final #2: Algonquin vs. Humber – 2:00 pm

Saturday, October 27, 2007
Bronze Medal Game: Losers of Semi-Finals - 9:00 am
Gold Medal Game: Winners of Semi-Finals – 3:00 pm

The championship is a single elimination tournament including the top four teams advancing from the quarterfinals. All games will be streamed online at www.sportslive.ca.

A complete championship schedule including game times and results will be available on the OCAA website at www.ocaa.com. For more information on the OCAA Women’s Soccer Championships please contact convenor Marlene Ford at Conestoga College (519) 519-748-5220 ext. 3452 or the Algonquin College athletic department at (613) 727-4723 ext. 7709.

The Algonquin Athletic Field Complex is a 5.4 million dollar soccer specific facility located on the Woodroffe Campus of Algonquin College. The facility is used year-round as an air-structure is erected from November thru April. The playing surface is artificial turf which measures 110 yards by 70 yards and is fully lit. It has four locker rooms, a field house, public washrooms, a physiotherapy clinic, coaches and officials rooms, a vending area as well as a seating area to relax.

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