Ridley was unable to capitalize
The Tigers, who qualified for provincials as the Conference of Independ Schools of Ontario Athletics representative, was unable to overcome early strikes from the Southern Ontario Secondary Schools Association (SOSSA) champion at the start of each half.
Ridley was unable to capitalize despite maintaining possession for long stretches.
Tigers head coach Paul O’Rourke said this year’s team made the school proud.
“This team made its mark on the long and successful history of Ridley College soccer, showing determination, courage and skill against the best OFSAA (single) A teams in the province.”
Adam Karachi of Niagara Falls, the team captain and one of the graduating seniors on this year’s Tigers squad, said the tournament revealed Ridley’s “true colours.”
“How greatness could be achieved through grit and determination,” he said. “The group of boys have been great teammates, but even better friends.”
Ridley kicked off provincials with a 1-1 draw with Cardinal Carter from Leamington on penalty kicks. Michael Steier, also from Niagara Falls, netted the game-tying goal for Ridley.
John Andrew Kit, Fonthill; scored two goals in a 2-1 victory over St. Paul from Mississauga, while Tigers goalkeeper and Niagara Falls native Thomas Crosbie stopped every shot he faced backstopping Ridley to a scoreless tie versus Louis Riel from Ottawa.
Tomiwa Toriola, Lagos, Nigeria; scored twice and Andrew Azan, Toronto; once as the Tigers edged Emmanuel Christian from Fergus to finish the preliminary round first in their pool with a 2-0-2 record.
Kit and Azan each scored twice in a 4-1 victory over Saint Charles Garnier, the defending bronze medallists from Whitby, in the quarter-final round.
In comparison to that convincing win, the semifinal against Holy Cross of Strathroy was a chess match that remained a scoreless stalemate through regulation as well as overtime.
Steier, Karachi and Azan, each with a goal; and Crosbie, with several game-saving stops; ended the drama as Ridley prevailed 3-1 moving onto the final.
Crosbie is committed to studying at Canisius University after he graduates from Ridley. Defending champion Jean Vanier brought a silver medal back to Welland after compiling a 6-1 record at the OFSAA single A girls soccer championships in Etobicoke.
The Lynx went undefeated in pool play outscoring their opponents 15-2 in four games.
Vanier opened with three shutouts – Mississauga St. Paul, 2-0; Toronto Etienne Broule, 4-0; North Bay Algonquin, 4-0 – before defeating Le Relais from Alexandria, southeast of Ottawa, to finish the preliminary round first in Pool A.
Standout play on defence continued for the Lynx as they blanked Kenora St. Thomas Aquinas 2-0 in the quarter-finals and Cambridge Pere Rene de Galinee 1-0 in the semifinals.
Only a 2-1 loss to Le Relais in a rematch for the gold medal marred an otherwise clean slate for SOSSA champion Vanier.