SENECA SOCCER: NATIONAL CHAMPIONS

The Seneca Sting men's soccer team were crowned the 2009 Big Kahuna/adidas CCAA National Champions on their home turf this past weekend in Toronto.

The Sting, who hosted this year's championship tournament, defeated the F.X. Garneau Elans 3-2 in the second period of overtime to win the gold medal on Saturday. The game-wining goal was scored by Mahmoud Mirsedeghi, who was also named the Championship Tournament’s Most Valuable Player.

Claudio Posca headed home the first goal of the game for the Sting off a free kick near midfield, but FX Garneau answered back with goals from Guillaume Nadeau and Patrice Dion to take a 2-1 lead into the half. Early in the second frame, Mirsedeghi broke loose down the left wing and knocked a low bouncer past the goalkeeper to knot things up 2 - 2.

Both teams had several good scoring chances to close out regulation time. The first overtime solved nothing, but Mirsedeghi pounded home the winner two minutes into the second overtime.
The gold medal winning Sting finished the tournament 3-0, all upset victories over higher-ranked opponents. 

F.X. Garneau Elans claimed the silver medal, while the Douglas College Royals took home the bronze. The Algonquin Thunder finished fifth.

Seneca's Shawn Tatham, Fab Castiglione and Gianfranco Chiechi were all named to the all-tournament team as well as Mike Gagliano from the Algonquin Thunder.

THE CHAMPIONSHIP WEEK IN REVIEW

FX Garneau Élans vs. Algonquin Thunder

It didn’t take long for the first goal and the first upset at the Big Kahuna/adidas CCAA Men’s Soccer National Championships. Patrice Dion’s goal less than 2 minutes into the game energized the FX Garneau Élans en route to a 2-1 victory over the defending National Silver Medalist Algonquin Thunder.

Jimmy McLaughlin had the other goal for the victorious Élans, the Fédération québécoise du sport étudiant (FQSE) Champions from Quebec City. Paul Walganjo Kihara got the Thunder to within a goal just before half-time, but that is as close as they would get.

Seneca Sting vs. Douglas Cougars

A day of upsets continued at the Big Kahuna/adidas CCAA Men’s Soccer National Championships as the host and 6th-seeded Seneca Sting defeated the number one ranked Douglas Cougars 1–0. Shawn Tatham ripped a shot from the top of the box past Cougar keeper Gaurav Shkula in the 84th minute to break a scoreless draw and power the underdog Sting to victory.

Seneca Sting vs. Holland College

Seneca College’s Mahmoud Mirsedeghi scored three unanswered goals and assisted on another to lead the Sting to a 4-0 victory over Holland College, wrapping up Day Two at the CCAA Men’s National Soccer Championship.


Mirsedeghi's natural hat trick included a rocket shot off a free kick from 22 yards out. Perry Akenten had the other marker for Seneca, who scored all of their goals in the first 25 minutes of the match. 


Algonquin Thunder vs. Mount Royal

The Algonquin College Thunder fought back from a three goal deficit to get to within one, but that is as close they would get in a 3-2 loss to the Mount Royal University Cougars at the Big Kahuna/adidas CCAA Men’s Soccer National Championship.

All-Canadian Kyle Yamada had two goals for the Cougars, who earned a birth in Saturday’s Bronze Medal match with the win. Sean Burchill had the other goal for Mount Royal. Ali Albadry and Mike Gagliano scored the two late markers for Algonquin, but the Thunder could not find the back of the net for the equalizer.

Algonquin Thunder vs. Holland College

Finally able to get rolling in the first half, the Algonquin Thunder made short work of the Holland Hurricanes to end their 2009 Championship run with a fifth place finish. Semir Hadziresic, Dejan Radojevic and Sean Pound all notched a goals for the Thunder in the victory.

For complete results and tournament information click here.

(Courtesy of the CCAA/SENECA)