La décima for No.1 Men's Soccer
By: Fernando Bossoes
Humber Athletics Communications
FREDERICTON, N.B. – Supremacy. Excellence. Humber Hawks.
According to the Oxford English Dictionary:
- Su·prem·a·cy
Plural: supremacies
The state or condition of being superior to all others in authority, power, or status.
- Ex·cel·lence
Plural: excellences
The quality of being outstanding or extremely good.
According to the Hawks' dictionary:
- Hum·ber Hawks
Plural: 68 CCAA titles
Home of the Champions
What do they have in common? They are synonyms.
From the beginning, no one questioned whether No. 1 Humber men's soccer would return the CCAA title to the Nest for a historic tenth time. The Hawks were untouchable throughout the season, posting a 13-0-1 record in the OCAA and leading the league in both offence and defence. The national championship seemed a pure formality — Humber had been playing the best soccer in the country for quite a long time. And, with legendary coach Michael Aquino at the helm, the case for him as the greatest coach in CCAA soccer history only grows stronger.
In a rematch of the 2024 OCAA Men's Soccer Championship match, the Humber Hawks triumphed over the No. 11 Algonquin Wolves to claim their tenth national title in a final score of 1-0. The match's lone goal came from Championship MVP Franz Mella, who had been decisive for Humber all season.
Match Recap
A year of arduous training, hard-won goals, relentless drills and an unwavering commitment led to this defining moment in Fredericton, N.B. The nation held its breath as the No. 1 Humber Hawks and the No. 11 Algonquin Wolves faced off once more — this time, with Canada's top spot on the line. For Humber, undefeated since the season kicked off on Sept. 6, it was a chance to capture a tenth national title. For Algonquin, it was a shot at redemption, a second chance to overcome the team that denied them OCAA glory. The country tuned in for the ultimate battle for Canadian collegiate soccer supremacy.
In the opening 15 minutes, the Hawks dictated the match's tempo with intense high pressure deep in Algonquin's territory. The Wolves found themselves on the back foot, struggling to generate any offensive momentum, while Humber pressed forward, creating the early chances.
At the 20-minute mark, a long pass switched the play from the left to the right flank, landing perfectly at the feet of Christian Keshishian inside the 18-yard box. With a brilliant one-touch setup, Keshishian fed Franz Mella, positioned just beside him. With his right foot, the less dominant but still flawless, Mella unleashed a rocket into the back of the net to open the scoring — his second goal of the tournament.
The Wolves battled the same demons that haunted them in the OCAA final. Without ball possession, Algonquin could not find their rhythm, and every offensive push was stopped by Humber's midfield line. Anchored by Jason Alvarado and Matias Lescano, the Hawks' midfielders crushed any hopes the Wolves had of breaking through in the first half.
As the final 45 minutes of play got underway, the crowd saw a much more energized Algonquin squad. With greater control of possession, the Wolves relied on crosses into the penalty box, hoping their players could score off headers or plays over Humber's back line.
After surviving the relentless pressure from Algonquin in the first 15 minutes of the second half, the Hawks regained composure and managed the clock as the final whistle drew near. With five minutes of added time, the Wolves went all in, but could not find an equalizer. As the referee blew the final whistle, the players erupted into the field, and the Humber Hawks were crowned national champions once again.
Humber's tenth national title is a testament to a dynasty, to supremacy, to history — however you choose to define it. The legacy of excellence that Humber men's soccer has built is unmatched across Canada. Perhaps, the closest definition to what greatness means.
Player of the Match, presented by 4imprint Canada
Championship MVP
Championship All-Stars
Humber Highlights
- The Hawks improve to 10-11 all-time against Algonquin and 3-0 at nationals.
- 24 per cent of all CCAA national championships have been won by Humber's men's soccer.
- Humber holds a 10-1 record in the CCAA Championship match.
- Coach Michael Aquino improves to 23-2 all-time at the big dance. Aquino remains unbeaten 7-0 in the CCAA Championship match.
- The Hawks have won the most CCAA Men's Soccer Championships in history, with ten titles. Aquino is second on that list, with seven championships, while Capilano is third with six.
- Humber finishes the season with a 6-0-1 record against nationally ranked teams.
- The Hawks wrapped up the 2024 campaign with an unbeaten record — only the seventh time in program history they have achieved this feat (1995, 2001, 2015, 2016, 2021, 2022 and 2024).
- Peter Sheberstov concluded the CCAA tournament with three clean sheets, moving him to fourth place on Humber's all-time CCAA clean sheets record.
- Christian Keshishian now ranks second on Humber's all-time CCAA assists list with three.
