OCAA MEN’S SOCCER QUARTER-FINALS PREVIEW

TORONTO - Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) men's soccer enters its second season this weekend, as eight teams vie for a spot at the upcoming OCAA Soccer Championships.

The top four teams in each region have advanced to the playoffs. The quarter-finals pit the first-place team against the fourth-place team from the opposite region. Likewise, the second-place team plays the third-place team from the opposite region. There is no inter-region play during the OCAA regular season.

The quarter-final winners advance to the OCAA Soccer Championships, taking place Oct. 28-29 at The Soccer Centre in Vaughn, Ont.

Seneca (4-2-1, 3rd East) at Sheridan (7-0-1, 2nd East)
Saturday, Oct. 22 - 3 p.m.

This game is a rematch of last year's OCAA semifinal game. Sheridan edged Seneca 2-1 en route to an OCAA silver medal. Seneca ended up claiming bronze.

Sheridan built a 2-0 lead courtesy of goals by Kevin Avila (Toronto) and David Velastegui (Quito, Ecuador). Kailen Murphy (Scarborough, Ont.) scored for Seneca, but it was all the Sting could muster on this day. All three players are back with their respective clubs this year.

Seneca has a balanced scoring attack, with six players contributing goals this season. Cristian Rodrigues (Maple, Ont.) is the team leader with four goals, one better than Murphy's three. Murphy is the reigning OCAA men's soccer player of the year. Conversely, Sheridan had 13 players score goals this season, led by Velastegui's four. Velastegui was named OCAA men's soccer rookie of the year in 2010.

St. Clair (4-4-0, 4th West) at Algonquin (6-0-1, 1st East)
Saturday, Oct. 22 - 3 p.m.

Algonquin won six straight OCAA championships between 2004 and 2009. Last season Algonquin was held out of the OCAA semifinal round after losing a quarter-final game against Sheridan.

Algonquin has been stingy on defence, allowing a league-low four goals this season. Offensively, Algonquin is led by a pair of snipers. Abdul Ibrahim is the team leader with six goals, followed closely by Jordan Mitchell-Reyes and his five markers. Both players are from Ottawa.

St. Clair has the most ground to cover in these quarter-finals, traveling approximately 800 km to Ottawa for the game. They do have all-time OCAA goals leader Robert Malbasic (Windsor, Ont.) on the roster, with 55 career goals to his credit. Malbasic led the Saints with 10 goals this year, followed by Leamington, Ont., product Jordan Lidia's six.

Fleming-Peterborough (4-3-0, 4th East) at Humber (7-0-1, 1st West)
Saturday, Oct. 22 - 5 p.m. (Vaughan Grove Soccer Centre)

Defending OCAA champion Humber was just as stingy as Algonquin on defence this season, also allowing just four goals. Humber also played one extra game.

Yousuf Mohammad (Toronto) leads Humber in goal scoring this season, netting seven goals. Roberto Galle (Toronto), Mario Orestano (Woodbridge, Ont.) and Carlos Rojas (Brampton, Ont.) have also been key contributers for the Hawks, with four goals each.

Fleming is led offensively by Mark Van Beek (Peterborough, Ont.) and his six goals. Fleming scored 12 goals in total this season.

Conestoga (4-3-1, 3rd East) at La Cite (5-0-2, 2nd East)
Sunday, Oct. 23 - 2 p.m.

Conestoga is one of the hottest teams heading into OCAA quarter-final action. After starting the year 0-3-1, the Condors have won four straight matches to secure a playoff spot.

Martin Mielnick leads Conestoga with six goals, all of which came during the win streak. Felipe Araque has contributed four goals. Both players are from Kitchener, Ont.

La Cite fields the top scorer in OCAA men's soccer. Jose Bruno Mota (Guatemala, Guatemala) scored 13 goals in seven games for his second straight league scoring title.

- OCAA -

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The Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) is a recognized leader in intercollegiate athletics in the province, dedicated to student athlete and sport development. The OCAA has 31 members sponsoring 16 league and tournament championships.

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Ontario Colleges Athletic Association
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