After a six year drought, the Humber Haws have flown back into the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association women’s soccer winner’s circle, after defeating the Algonquin Thunder 2-0 on Wednesday evening.

Starting the championship in Ottawa at Algonquin College, the Hawks first task on the championship run was to find a way to upend the two-time defending champs from Durham College, a team known for their scoring firepower. The Hawks soundly defeated the Lords 2-0 earning their wings into the Championship game. Durham’s Goalkeeper, Ashley Visser and Humber’s rookie forward, Keyla Moreno, were named the Player’s of the Game for their outstanding efforts.

In the other semi-final, the host Thunder team silenced the high scoring Seneca Sting 1-0 to move back into the championship game for the first time since 2006. Jennifer Groleau of Algonquin was name the Player of the Game for the winner, while Calaigh Copland was named with the honour for the Sting.

When the final kicked off the following day, everything at the tournament looked to be going smooth for the eventual champs. The Hawk’s held a lead 1-0 when at the whistle went at the half way marker, but the skies over Ottawa decided to open up and unfortunately did not let up enough to get the remainder of the game in. Not only did the rain wash out the field, but with teams unable to remain in Ottawa to play the following day, the score would also be washed out and a neutral site would be required to replay the game.

“It was frustrating. You prepare all year for the OCAA Championships and then to be leading at half-time of the final and to have the game postponed was definitely frustrating,” commented Humber’s Joanna Alexopulos of the change of venue and the restart to the game.

Algonquin Head Coach, Garth Gittens was also frustrated by the change in location. “It was difficult mentally,” said Gittens. “We prepared all week for the championships on our home field and then to have to start the finals in the rain and then have the game postponed was very tough.”

Leading up to any championship every team has its fair share of obstacles to overcome and this championship had already proved it would be no different. With the rain and restart already in the books, a new challenge for the ladies persisted. Just like the men’s game the day before, the strong winds provided a significant hurdle. “It didn’t matter how hard you kicked the ball, it just came back to you,” said Alexopulos, Humber’s captain.

Frustrating or not, the Hawks regrouped and marched on to the 2-0 victory after Brittany Szcerbakow found the back of the net early at the 6:50 minute mark and at the 67:00 minute mark of the second half Tournament MVP, Connie Tamberello, booted the ball in for the final goal of the game.


“We just wanted to come out and play our game,” said Alexopulos after the victory. “It worked well all year and we wanted to do the same today. We thought that if we played our game we would win.”

“It was a hard fought game between two very strong teams,” recalled Humber Head Coach Mauro Pileggi of the match. “We started tentative and our goalie had to make a couple of good saves early in the game. But after we got the first goal around the seven minute mark we seemed to relax and play our game.”

With the Provincials in the book, the Hawks can now look ahead to the National Championship at Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops BC. “It’s been five or six years since Humber has been to Nationals,” said Tamberello. So we are happy to be going back. We just want to go and come out and play strong and hopefully we come back with a medal.”

As for how what the girls will do to prepare before they leave? “Tonight we will have some fun and enjoy the win,” said Pileggi on Wednesday. “The girls will rest the next few days and we will practice Saturday before leaving for B.C. on Monday and we hope to have two full practices in B.C.”

In the bronze medal game, early in the second half at the 53 minute mark, Calaigh Copland of Seneca scored the game’s only goal to give the Sting a 1-0 victory and the bronze medal. Durham had plenty of chances but could not catch a break as they would fall to the Sting.

Copland, who scored the game winner, had a terrific season for Seneca netting a team high 12 goals during the regular season while being named a league all-star. Seneca’s Cayley Laubitz and Durham’s Jodi Den Bok were named the players of the game.

OCAA Championship Players of the Game
Allie Browne - Algonquin
Rose Mary Ormeno - Humber

Championship Tournament All-Stars
Ashley Docking - Seneca
Jennifer Groleau - Algonquin
Nicole Carvalho - Humber

Top Goalkeeper - Rose Mary Ormeno - Humber

Tournament MVP - Connie Tamburello - Humber

For complete tournament results, please click here