Knights finish fourth in Ontario
Haven’t we seen this before? You know, Niagara coming up short in the third-place final at the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) men’s soccer championships, and Humber winning yet another medal at provincials.
Except for the venue — Fleming College in Peterborough instead of Redeemer University College in Ancaster — this year ended the same way 2016 did for the Niagara Knights.
OCAA player of the year Kingsley Bosaioko’s goal at the 40-minute mark was the extent of the offence in the bronze final Saturday afternoon, but it was enough to give the two-time defending provincial champions a top-three finish for the eighth year in a row.
His game winner was the result of a free kick. Bosaiokos, whose Hawks also won the gold medal in 2012, 2013 and 2014 before settling for silver in 2015, buried a rebound from a driven shot that skipped on the wet pitch.
Both sides were coming off disappointing losses in Friday’s semifinal round at the three-day, eightteam tournament: Niagara, 1-0 to the Durham Lords; Humber, 1-0 to the Algonquin Thunder.
The Knights coaching staff was unsure whether the team would be able to rebound from a loss to Durham that denied the Welland school the first medal in the history of the men’s soccer program.
“We were worried about their disposition after a crushing loss Friday, but our goalkeeper, Sam Robson, was the team whip today in his career final,” head coach Frank DeChellis said.
“He led the guys through his attitude and actions while playing one of his best games as a Knight.”
While a match pitting 10-0 Humber, the OCAA’s only undefeated team in league play, against the 6-2-2 Knights appeared a mismatch on paper, it didn’t play out that way on the pitch.
“I thought we matched up very well today,” DeChellis said. “Humber knew they had to respect us or it would have cost them dearly.”
End-to-end action kept both keepers on high alert for the entire 90 minutes.
“We used the entire field effectively today and never allowed ourselves to get into a situation that we couldn’t get out of,” he said. “Much to our dismay, Humber’s keeper had a good game.”
Robson had nothing but praise for his teammates.
“The boys played a great game, the back line was solid, as usual, and the midfield was moving the ball well today,” he said. “We just couldn’t capitalize on our chances.
“But that is soccer and I couldn’t be more proud of our team today.”
DeChellis said after completing his sixth season as the team’s head coach there is more to soccer at the post-secondary level than wins and losses.
“We had a lot of competitive success this year, but I am proud that the players learned there are many other ways to measure success,” he said. “We enjoy this environment because all college-age student athletes are eager to learn more about the sport they love.”
Niagara made the playoffs for the fifth straight season and advanced to provincials for the third year in a row.
We just couldn’t capitalize on our chances. But that is soccer and I couldn’t be more proud of our team today.”
Niagara Knights men’s soccer goalkeeper Sam Robson
“We are proud of where the program is in terms of competitiveness and reputation,” DeChellis said. “The college has invested in our program at it shows.”
And a return is expected on that investment, but the veteran coach, a Welland native, said he wouldn’t have it any other way.
“The higher expectations make coaching and playing more enjoyable.”
Niagara’s success during the regular season, when it finished second in the West Division, didn’t go unnoticed by the OCAA. Jordi Amores, Niagara Falls; Andrew Currie, Woodstock; Carlos Williams, St. Catharines; and Robson, Milton; earned all-star honours, while Currie was recognized as the division’s defensive player of the year.
Durham doubled Algonquin 2-1 for the gold medal, and both teams will represent the conference at the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association championships Nov. 8-11 at Vancouver Island University in Nanaimo, B.C.