The final 12 are now set in OCAA women's soccer, with four teams earning well-deserved byes into the quarter-finals.

The Algonquin Thunder (8-0-0) and Seneca Sting (7-1-0), defending OCAA gold and silver medalists, respectively, finished on top of the east standings and will host quarter-final matches next week. Ditto for the reigning bronze medalist Humber Hawks (7-0-1) and Sheridan Bruins (6-0-2), clinching the top two positions in the west.

As for the remaining eight teams, things will intensify rapidly. These clubs will compete against division foes in a qualifying match, with the third place team hosting the sixth-ranked team in their respective region. The fifth seed travels to the fourth. The winners will then crossover and visit those with byes in the opposite division in the quarter-finals.

Unlike the regular season, there will be no ties. Extra time and possible penalty kicks will be used to determine winners. Last season, only one game went to overtime. There were 11 ties during the 2014 regular season.

The 2014 OCAA Women's Soccer Championship takes place at Algonquin College in Ottawa from Oct. 24-25.

Loyalist (2-4-2, 5th East) at St. Lawrence-Kingston (4-3-1, 4th East)
Wednesday, Oct. 9 - 3:30 p.m.

St. Lawrence-Kingston advanced to the final four after playing in the qualifying round last season. The Vikings are gearing up for similar success this October.

St. Lawrence won its last three matches, including a 3-1 win at Loyalist on Sept. 30, to secure its playoff berth. The Vikings have a goal differential of zero this season, scoring 14 goals while allowing 14. Second-year player Megan Simpson (Napanee, Ont.) leads all St. Lawrence players with five goals this season.

The Loyalist Lancers will compete in their first OCAA post-season match since 2005. The Lancers clinched the fifth seed in their final match of the season, a 1-0 victory over Centennial. Kristen Larone (Kemptville, Ont.) scored the game winner and playoff clincher in the 75th minute.

Second-year forward Sonya Dronsfield (Nepean, Ont.) leads all Lancers with three goals this season. Loyalist scored just nine goals this season while allowing 21.

Conestoga (2-3-3, 6th West) at Fanshawe (5-1-2, 3rd West)
Wednesday, Oct. 9 - 4 p.m.

After losing its season opener against Humber 1-0, Fanshawe has gone unbeaten in its last seven matches. This includes a 5-0 victory over Conestoga on Sept. 18.

Fifth-year forward Katie Parker (Strathroy, Ont.) scored four times in the victory. Parker was the west region's co-leader in goals with 11. Fanshawe was one of the top offensive units in the region with 28 total goals, allowing just seven.

Fanshawe is in unfamiliar territory. The Falcons are competing in the OCAA qualifying round for the first time under the current playoff format, having advanced directly to the quarter-finals the previous four seasons.

Conestoga went unbeaten in its first three games, but struggled down the stretch dropping three of five. First-year forward Megan Longpre (Kitchener, Ont.) is the team leader in goals with four. The Condors scored 10 times while allowing 18.

Conestoga lost to Mohawk 1-0 in the qualifying round last season.

Mohawk (3-4-1, 5th West) at St. Clair (4-2-2, 4th West)
Thursday, Oct. 10 - 3:30 p.m.

The St. Clair Saints will host their first playoff match in 15 seasons on account of their fourth place finish in the west standings. It was quite a turnaround season for the Saints after going 1-6-1 in 2013.

St. Clair was undefeated through its first six games before losses to division frontrunners Sheridan and Humber. The Saints outscored their opponents 18-8. First-year forward Melanie Daniel (Tecumseh, Ont.) has scored a team-high five goals, including one in a 3-0 win over Mohawk on Sept. 12.

Mohawk enters this match winless in three of its last four matches. The Mountaineers have scored just eight goals this season, while allowing 17. Three players share the team lead with two goals each.

Mohawk advanced to the quarter-finals last season with its win over Conestoga.  

Durham (2-4-2, 6th East) at Cambrian (6-2-0, 3rd East)
Saturday, Oct. 11 - 10:00 a.m.

Identical 2-0 losses to east regional frontrunners Algonquin and Seneca bookended Cambrian's regular season. In between these losses, Cambrian won six straight, outscoring the opposition 41-5. As a result, the Golden Shield will host their first-ever playoff match.

Cambrian's Tiffany Johnson (Sudbury, Ont.) topped all OCAA players in scoring with 16 goals. Teammate Taylor Rocca (Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.) was second with a dozen goals.

Durham won two of its final three matches to secure the final playoff spot in the east. A pair of Lords are co-leaders in team scoring with three goals. Durham has been outscored 27-10 in their eight matches.

The Lords lost to Cambrian 9-3 in their season finale. Third-year forward Jade Kurhan (Oshawa, Ont.) scored a pair of goals in defeat.

Source: OCAA Communications