Elite local soccer squads compete for ERSL titles
For the first time, four of the city’s top soccer teams squared off in two separate games at TD Place on Sunday to conclude two season-long tournaments that included clubs from all over Eastern Ontario and Western Quebec.
The East Region Soccer League (ERSL), which organizes the soccer season for clubs in Ottawa and areas as far away as Kingston, held the finals for the ERSL Cup and ERSL Shield games at Lansdowne Park at the request of Ottawa Fury and Ottawa Sports and Entertainment Group.
The two finals took place back to back on the pitch where the Ottawa Fury play, giving the fledgling competitive players a taste of what it’s like to hit the big time. More than 425 fans showed up to support the players and watch the games from the stands.
“This really brings a level of prestige to the game that we haven’t seen in the past,” said Shannon Holder, general manager of the ERSL.
“We’ve been working with the Fury on a number of grassroots initiatives. They’ve been trying to make this happen for about a year now. Timing wise, the opportunity for us to do something worked out.”
Holder said, this year only the 17and 18-year-old boys’ teams would play their finals at Lansdowne due to scheduling issues. She said ERSL would like to extend the competition to include its top girls teams at the venue next year.
In recent years the Fury has been reaching out to area soccer clubs in an attempt to build its brand with young players by holding clinics, special events and including area teams in things like pre-game and halftime scrimmages. Inviting the finalists in the 17- to 18-year-old age group to compete for the ERSL Cup and Shield on their home turf, was part of the Fury’s weeklong “I Heart Soccer” event, which aimed to celebrate the game with fans
This really brings a level of prestige to the game that we haven’t seen in the past.
in the community by staging a number of soccer-related events throughout the week.
Founded in 2004, the ERSL Cup and Shield are season-long, singlegame knockout competitions: Lose one match and you are eliminated from the tournament. Each tournament starts with 16 teams from across Eastern Ontario and Western Quebec.
The Cup is open to Regional soccer teams and eligible Tier 1 teams. The Shield is open to all teams within the ERSL regardless of Tier. Teams are placed within “Tiers” based on their skill level. The top teams in the city play in the highest Tiers.
The Ottawa Gloucester Hornets faced off against the Kemptville District Soccer Club for the ERSL Shield, which kicked off at 11:15 a.m. The game remained tied at 3-3 at the end of regulation, leading the two sides into a penalty kick shootout, with Kemptville emerging victorious and claiming this 2018 Shield.