SENECA, HUMBER ADVANCE TO OCAA GOLD MEDAL MATCH

ANCASTER, Ont. - The Seneca Sting and the Humber Hawks will play for OCAA gold on Saturday after both teams won their semifinal matches on Friday at the 2012 OCAA Men's Soccer Championship. The Final Four championship is taking place Friday and Saturday at Redeemer University College in Ancaster, Ontario.

Seneca advanced to the gold medal match with a dramatic win over St. Clair in the first semifinal of the day. Humber advanced after a wild game against rival Sheridan in the second semi-final on Friday. St. Clair and Sheridan will play for the bronze medal on Saturday.

By winning their semifinal match-ups, Seneca and Humber have both qualified for the 2012 CCAA Men’s Soccer National Championship. Regardless of the outcome in the gold medal match, both teams advance as the OCAA holds a wildcard spot for this year's nationals.

The first semifinal of the day saw six goals scored in the match-up between Seneca and St. Clair. The match was a back and forth affair with teams exchanging goals throughout the game. Seneca struck first after a fourth-minute goal by Jorge Perez gave the Sting a dream start. Seneca held the 1-0 lead straight through halftime.

It wasn't until the 47th minute that St. Clair tied it up with a goal from Jordan Lidia. This seemed to open the flood gates. Three goals were scored in a 13-minute span. Seneca took the lead (75th minute by Mauricio Chamale), St. Clair then equalized (76th by Brian Santos), before Seneca once again went ahead (88th by Jorge Perez).

An injury time goal by Seneca clinched the game as David Alva converted a penalty kick for the 4-2 win.

In the second match of the day, Humber came out on the winning end of a very chippy 1-0 match. Marcos Nunes had the goal for the Hawks that pushed Humber into the gold medal match. Nunes scored in the 64th minute. Sheridan put pressure on Humber over the course of the last 20 minutes but just couldn't find the equalizer.

The Bruins thought that had tied it up before the referee called a goal back after a foul in the penalty area by one of the Sheridan players. After that both teams exchanged chances but both defences held strong with the Hawks holding on to the lead and the 1-0 win.

Both Saturday games will be webcast on Sportslive.ca.

Championship Website: www.ocaa.com/championships/2012-13/msoccer

Championship Schedule

Friday, October 26
OCAA Semifinals
Seneca 4, St. Clair 2
Humber 1, Sheridan 0

Saturday, October 27
Bronze Medal Match
St. Clair vs. Sheridan - 12 p.m.
*Winning team presented OCAA Bronze Medal at conclusion of match

Gold Medal Match
Seneca vs. Humber - 2:30 p.m.
*OCAA Gold and Silver Medals presented at conclusion of match

Source: Redeemer University College with files from OCAA Communications