WEST RULES AT OCAA MEN'S SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIP

OTTAWA - The Conestoga Condors and Humber Hawks have advanced to the gold medal game at the 2025 Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) Men's Soccer Championship.

Conestoga upended the host Algonquin Wolves 3-2 in the opening semi-final. The Condors opened the scoring in the 31st minute on a goal by fourth-year player Marko Lesic (Kitchener). Conestoga took its one-goal advantage into halftime.

Lesic scored another in the 60th minute to give the Condors a commanding 2-0 lead. The West Division League Second-Team All-Star struck again for good measure in the 78th minute, securing a hat trick.

With their championship hopes on the ropes, the Wolves roared back in the closing 10 minutes. Fourth-year right win Mohammed Mecheri (Ottawa) ended the shutout in the 83rd minute, and OCAA Player of the Year Alessandro Vivolo (Ottawa) pulled Algonquin within one in the final two minutes of regulation. Overtime was not in the cards, however, as Conestoga held on to the win.

The defending champion Humber Hawks blanked their crosstown rival Seneca Sting 3-0 in the other semi-final. Second-year player Carmine Fiore (Woodbridge) opened the scoring in the eighth minute, and Humber held on to that slim advantage for much of the remainder of the match.

Fiore added an insurance goal in the 81st minute, sinking Sting hearts. Second-year forward Cristiano Candelaresi (Bolton) added one more in the dying moments, securing a seventh-straight appearance in the OCAA final. It is Humber's 13 straight victory in 2025.

Conestoga meets Humber for gold for the second time in three years. It is a meeting of the past two champions with the Condors winning it all in 2023. These West Division squads met twice during the regular season with Humber winning both matches 1-0.

The Wolves and Sting close their respective seasons in the OCAA bronze medal game. These clubs met once during the regular season, with Seneca winning 4-2 in Toronto. The Sting have won OCAA medals in each of the last five seasons. Algonquin won both OCAA and national silver medals last year.

Not only will the Condors and Hawks meet for the OCAA championship, both will advance to next month's 2025 Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association Men's Soccer National Championship in Saint-Lambert, Que. Humber is also the defending national champions.

Both OCAA medal games can be seen on OCAA LIVE.

Live Webcast: www.ocaa.com/live

Saturday, October 25
Semi-Finals
Semi-Final #1: Conestoga def. Algonquin 3-2
Semi-Final #2: Humber def. Seneca 3-0

Sunday, October 26
Bronze Medal Match
Seneca vs. Algonquin - 12 p.m.
Winning team presented OCAA Bronze Medal at conclusion of match

Gold Medal Match
Conestoga vs. Humber - 3 p.m.
OCAA Gold and Silver Medals presented at conclusion of match

- OCAA -

ABOUT ONTARIO COLLEGES ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION

For nearly 60 years, the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association has been a dedicated leader in amateur athletics through the provision of quality varsity and recreational athletic opportunities at the collegiate level.

For additional information please contact:
Josh Bell-Webster
Marketing and Communications
Ontario Colleges Athletic Association
Tel: 416-426-7041
E-mail: bell-webster@ocaa.com