The men’s indoor soccer team moved into the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) championship after finishing on top of the Pool C regional championship unbeaten.
The team outscored their opponents 17-4 over four games played at the Ontario Soccer Centre in Vaughan, Ont., on Feb. 26 against their pool opponents Sheridan Bruins, the Centennial Colts, the Durham Lords and the Confederation Thunderhawks.
The team’s initial game was against Confederation, using a mix of starters and substitutes to start the game. The Hawks showed no mercy to their Thunder Bay counterparts and dominated all aspects of the game.
Humber’s defender Isaiah Noel and forward Cristiano Candelaresi each scored a brace in a 6-0 rout.
The second game of the day against the Colts was more physical, with both teams showing high intensity. The Colts had the best scoring chances at the beginning of the match, but Humber’s goalkeeper Peter Sheberstov showed off magnificent saves to keep the score tied.
Humber’s first serious attack ended up at the bottom of the net thanks to defender Luca Pinto’s goal after a perfect counterattack launched after a Centennial corner kick.
The team loosened up after the goal and created several chances to increase the lead before halftime, but the score didn’t move and ended up in one goal difference for Humber at halftime.
Hawks’ forward Christian Keshishian scored quickly at the beginning of the second half that left Centennial without reaction for the rest of the game, locking the final score at 2-0.
The Durham Lords were Humber’s third rival of the day, and while the Hawks played with a mix of starters and substitutes, the team showed the same intensity and created multiple scoring chances, but lacked in effectiveness.
The Lords opened up the scoring five minutes before the end of the first half after a turnover by Humber’s defence, leaving the score 0-1 at halftime.
However, the Hawks' reaction was swift and turned the score around in less than one minute. It was the beginning of Humber’s midfielder Matias Lescano's masterful game, participating in the team's three goals of the game. Humber scored the third and definitive goal five minutes before the end of the match, leaving the final score 3-1 for the Hawks.
The Bruins were the last rival for Humber, a game where both teams showed defensive weakness and fatigue after the previous games.
The game was tied at the beginning, with both teams scoring two goals before the eighth minute. But Humber adjusted its defence and scored two more goals before halftime.
The Hawks increased their lead in the second half and while Sheridan reduced Humber’s lead to two goals again, Keshishian’s goal sealed the 6-3 final score.
Humber Men’s coach Michael Aquino said he was happy with his team’s performance.
“The boys gave very good effort,” he said. “They put what we've been working on in practice into the game, and we had success.”
Aquino said the rotations made during the games helped the players to stay fresh after very intense games.
“The rotations are a reflection of trying to put the best players on the field for that particular game, but also by maintaining freshness from game to game,” he said.
The team will rest and then start preparing for the March 6 championship, Aquino said.
The Hawks finished first in their group with 12 points while Centennial and Sheridan ended up second and third respectively. All teams qualified for the championship.
Humber’s championship group includes the Seneca Sting, the St. Clair Saints and the Fanshawe Falcons.
The team kicks off the playoff round robin against the Saints at 10 a.m. at the Ontario Soccer Centre at 7601 Martin Grove Rd. seeking a spot among the final four of the OCAA.
Midfielder Matias Lescano said the team’s performance in all games was very good, but highlighted the second half against Durham that gave Humber the qualification.
“We changed the game and played with passion,” he said. “It was our best performance throughout the day.”
Lescano said the team is focused and relaxed, and now their focus is on the playoffs.
Humber’s midfielder Santiago Muniz said while it’s a different type of soccer compared to the traditional 11 versus 11 game, the team is ready for what’s to come.
“It’s going to be tougher,” Muniz said. “We have the players to get into a new final, win and get the gold again.”
