Cavan FC win OSL Central Region East title with pair of victories
Promoted to the OSL’s Provincial East Division for 2019 after just two seasons
Anti-climactic or not Cavan FC celebrated an Ontario Soccer League Central Region East championship on Sunday afternoon.
A pair of weekend victories clinched first place for Cavan with a 9-2-2 record in their second year in the OSL. It earns them promotion to the OSL’s Provincial East Division, one step below the Provincial Elite, for 2019.
On Friday night, Cavan defeated Scarborough Azzurri 4-1 at the Fleming Sports Field Complex. On Sunday, they were scheduled to face East Metal at Fleming and had many youth players on hand only to have the opponents forfeit due to a lack of players.
The victory moved them five points ahead of second place Peterborough City, who have one game left, and seven ahead of Scarborough who have two games left including Sept. 21 when they host Cavan who cannot be caught be either.
Cavan FC head coach Alex Penello said the team had lunch at The Social, their sponsor, and showed up excited and ready to play. Only two players from East Metal showed up.
“It was a little disappointing,” Penello said.
“We had a good crowd from the club who had made up all these signs. They were disappointed, too. We ended up having a game of kick around.”
The key win was Friday when Cavan broke open a 1-1 game at half-time with three unanswered goals. Mark Vanbeek led the way with a pair while Nick Kowalchuk and Brandon Bigelow also scored.
Cavan finished second last year to Pana 2.0 in their first season fielding a men’s side.
They added three veteran players in Vanbeek, Bigelow and Matt Penello, who joined his younger brothers Josh, Joey and Michael, to push them over the top.
“We were three points out last year. This team was a more mature team,” said Alex Penello.
“Mark Vanbeek is an awesome player, I’ve coached him since he was 12 years old, and Brandon and my oldest son Matthew brought leadership and maturity. We worked hard and improved on a lot of the things we needed to improve. As a coach I’m extremely happy and very proud of the guys. They’re a good bunch of guys, hard-working and honest.”
They look forward to testing themselves at a higher level next season. Pana 2.0 currently sit in first place in the Provincial East which gives Penello an idea they should fit right in.
“We competed well against (Pana),” Penello said.
“We expected to win this year, 100 per cent,” said Matt Penello.
“We picked up some good players, Bigs and Mark are friends of mine who came to the squad this year and with those additions, myself and the returning players we really stacked up this year.
“It’s a goal accomplished and we look forward to playing at the next level.”
This year marked the first season all four Penello brothers, who range in age from 20 to 30, played a season together.
“It was like kicking the ball around in the backyard,” said Matt Penello. “No different than what we’ve done our whole lives.”
It was special for their father. “I have four biological kids on the team but I consider them all my kids,” said Alex Penello.
“I have to be careful with that but it was a thrill sitting back watching. Especially Friday against Scarborough Azzurri. We were tied at half-time and we had a talk in the dressing room and I saw my four boys really kick in. It was good to see.”
Cavan FC is also alive in the OSL’s Frank Doherty Cup. They will meet Guelph Oaks FC in semifinals. A date and location are still to be announced.