HAWKS OPEN DEFENCE OF TITLE ON THURSDAY VS MOHAWK

ANCASTER, ON: The Humber Hawks men's soccer team, 2015 CCAA National and OCAA Provincial champions, will take to the pitch in OCAA Quarter-Final playoff action on Thursday evening at Redeemer University College against the Mohawk Mountaineers. Kick-off is slated for 7:30 pm.

The Hawks advanced directly to the OCAA Championship tournament by way of their 10-0 record and Central Division title, while the Mohawk squad knocked off the Durham Lords 3-2 in a crossover playoff game after finishing fourth in the West Division. The Mountaineers finished the regular season with a record of 4-5-1.

Humber led the entire league in goals for (37) and goals against (4). Mohawk showed a solid offence scoring 19 goals, but averaged over a goal a game against at 1.30 gpg.

Humber was led offensively by star striker Marcos Nunes and his 10 goals in 9 games. Former CCAA All Canadian Jaineil Hoilett had another terrific year, with eight markers. Nine Mohawk shared in the scoring this year, led by Sani Dey and his team leading five goals.

Two time CCAA National MVP Eugenio Garro is returning from injury soon, but Karman Singh has more than picked up the slack by going 7-0 and surrendering a single goal in 585 minutes of play. His goals against average of .964 led the entire league. The keeping was shared by two Mountaineers goalies, but Adam Riecicky carried more of the load by starting seven games. He won three games and lost two, while posting a goals against average of .794.

From the outside looking in, this looks like a game that favours the Hawks, but the fact that four teams in the West Division have qualified for the Final Eight event has spurred some questions about conference strength.

The winner will advance to the semi-finals, while the loser will play the rest of the way for fifth place.

Website: http://ocaa.com/championships/msoc/2016-17/index

Live Stream: www.redeemerroyals.ca/OCAAMSOC2016