OCAA WOMEN'S SOCCER QUALIFIERS PREVIEW

TORONTO - Crunch time has arrived for a dozen women's soccer teams in the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) as the road to the OCAA championship begins this weekend.

The top six teams in each region have advanced to the post-season. But while the top two teams have earned a well-deserved bye into the quarter-finals, the bottom four seeds need one more victory for the right to advance.

Teams will compete against division foes for one more weekend, as the third place team hosts the sixth-best club in their respective region. The fifth seed visits the fourth.

The 2012 OCAA Women's Soccer Championship takes place at Algonquin College in Ottawa from Oct. 26-27.

St. Clair (2-3-3, 5th West) at Conestoga (2-3-3, 4th West)
Saturday, Oct. 13 - 7 p.m.

A pair of teams with identical records kick off the post-season, with Conestoga earning the right to host thanks to favourable OCAA tiebreakers.

The Condors and Saints opened the regular season against each other just over a month ago, with the game ending in a scoreless draw. A tie will not be an option this time around, with overtime and penalty kicks a possibility.

Conestoga is led offensively by fourth-year forward Sam Sokoloskie (Kitchener) and her team-high four goals. The Condors are unbeaten in four of their last five matches.

St. Clair had the lowest number of total goals scored (five for and six against) in its eight regular season matches this season, with the Saints taking part in three scoreless draws. Fifth-year defender Sara Kox (Denfield) led the Saints with two goals. St. Clair is undefeated in two of its last three games.

The winner faces OCAA East Division champion Algonquin (7-0-1, 1st East) in the quarter-finals.

St. Lawrence-Kingston (2-4-2, 6th East) at Seneca (6-2-0, 3rd East)
Sunday, Oct. 14 - 1 p.m.

The Sting and Vikings enter the post-season on winless streaks, with one being more prominent than the other.

Seneca had a four-game win streak snapped by Durham last Tuesday in its regular season finale. The 3-2 defeat cost the Sting a bye into the quarter-finals.

Seneca has a chance to redeem itself against a St. Lawrence-Kingston squad it defeated 3-0 at home on Sept. 29. The Sting are well-rounded offensively, with 14 players contributing goals, including first-year striker Stephanie Harris' (Bradford) team-high five.

St. Lawrence-Kingston has lost five of its last six matches, tying Fleming 1-1 in its regular season finale. Second-year striker Ashley Belmore (Cornwall) lead the Vikings with three goals.

The Sting have reached the OCAA semifinals in each of the past two seasons.

The winner faces Fanshawe (7-1-0, 2nd West).

Centennial (3-4-1, 5th East) at La Cite (4-3-1, 4th East)
Sunday, Oct. 14 - 2 p.m.

Centennial and La Cite battled to a scoreless draw in their regular season match on Sept. 29. This time, a trip to the quarter-finals is on the line.

The Coyotes were successful in holding Centennial second-year forward Miriam El-Masri (Scarborough) in check in their first meeting. El-Masri led the Colts with five goals during the regular season.

First-year midfielder Caroline Gratton (Ottawa) was La Cite's top scorer with three goals on the regular season.

The winner faces OCAA West Division champion Sheridan (7-1-0, 1st West).

Mohawk (2-4-2, 6th West) at Humber (7-1-0, 3rd West)
Sunday, Oct. 14 - 5:30 p.m.

Two-time defending OCAA champion Humber suffered its first regular season loss in 66 matches on Wednesday, dropping its regular season finale 2-1 against Fanshawe.

OCAA tiebreakers did not fall in favour of the Hawks, who are now faced with hosting a playoff qualifier against Mohawk. Humber defeated the Mountaineers 3-1 at Mohawk back on Sept. 15. Second-year forward Angela Solarz (Trenton) scored a pair of goals in the contest.

Humber is led by fifth-year forward Keyla Moreno (Toronto) and first-year midfielder Jayde Wiklund-Roach (Brampton) who combined dozen goals during the regular season.

Third-year forward Ashley Hagen (Ancaster) is Mohawk's leading scorer with five regular season goals.

The winner faces Durham (7-1-0, 2nd East) in the next round.

- OCAA -

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