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Sports Oakville Beaver The Oakville Beaver, Friday May 26, 2006 - 31 National finalist STORY, PAGE 32 SPORTS EDITOR: JON KUIPERIJ Phone 905-845-3824 (ext. 255) Fax 905-337-5567 email sports@oakvillebeaver.com · FRIDAY, MAY 26, 2006 Trinity earns another shot at Irish By Herb Garbutt OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF The Holy Trinity Titans are looking forward to a second chance. The Titans earned a rematch with the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, the team that defeated them in last year's Halton senior boys' AAAA soccer final, by defeating the M.M. Robinson Rams 2-0 in Wednesday's semifinal. Trinity and Notre Dame will clash today in the regional AAAA championship game, scheduled for a 1 p.m. start in Burlington. The Titans needed more than second chances in the semifinal -- they needed third, fourth, fifth and sixth chances. Despite controlling the play for the majority of the game, the Titans required goals by Jacob Zagar and Damir Dolcic in the final eight minutes. "You know the goals are going to come, it was a matter of time," said Titans' coach Dan Seixeiro. Still, as time continued to tick away, it looked like the first goal would win it. "My biggest fear was that they would have one quick counter-attack and score," Seixeiro said. The Rams did have their chances to do just that, but each time Matt Lubric came up with the saves. Even the one time he got beat when he rushed out of the net, he scrambled back as the Rams player regained control and managed to head the ball wide. The Titans also survived a Robinson free kick from just outside the 18-yard box. The Titans, meanwhile, had plenty of chances. In the second half alone, Mike Cumpstey headed Mark Badrov's cross just wide, Jason Field worked through a pair of defenders before firing wide and Zagar unleashed a hard shot just over the crossbar. Finally it was Zagar cashing in on a scoring opportunity to give the Titans the lead. The Rams immediately began pressing hard for the tying goal, which a few minutes later allowed Dave Ortega to set up Dolcic for the clincher. The Titans have history on their side for today's final. There have been seven different Halton senior boys soccer champions in the last seven years. A Holy Trinity victory would make it eight in eight years. · Aquinas, Loyola also in soccer finals -- story, page 33 RIZIERO VERTOLLI / OAKVILLE BEAVER HOPING TO REPEAT : Phil Ionadi (in white jacket) and the Oakville Blue Devils are looking to defend their Canadian Soccer League (formerly Canadian Professional Soccer League) championship this season. The Blue Devils open the season Sunday in Brampton. Different cast of Blue Devils seeks repeat By Jon Kuiperij BEAVER SPORTS EDITOR Seven months after winning the league championship, a vastly different Oakville Blue Devils squad will hit the soccer pitch this weekend in Brampton. Oakville will open the Canadian Soccer League (formerly Canadian Professional Soccer League) season Sunday at 6 p.m. with a roster that hardly resembles the one that earned a CPSL crown in the team's inaugural year. Among the departed are Gabriel Pop, Igor Prostran, Domico Coddington, Marko Bedenikovic, Ryan Gamble and coach Duncan Wilde, the latter moving on to become head coach of the Toronto Lynx. Replacing Wilde will be Phil Ionadi, the captain of last year's squad, who understands the challenges that face this year's edition of the Blue Devils. "We've lost about eight players, but the guys that are coming in hopefully can make a difference," he said. "They'll make mistakes and learn from them and grow. There will be some stumbles along the way, and I could be one of the best defensive players in understand that, but I think as we keep the CSL, joining returning players like keeper Sabrahima Traore, Nicholas Poku, Sean going, we'll get stronger." Pop may prove to be the most difficult Faria, Sergio Deluca, Jamie Fairweather and player to replace, finishing second in the Lovemore Ncube. "We have new players but we CPSL last season with 18 goals. "There will be still have good players," said However, Ionadi and Blue Traore, the top keeper in the Devils general manager Barry some stumbles CPSL last year. "We just need Goldlist feel they might have along the way... more conditioning and everythe answer with the acquisition but I think as we thing will be okay." of Judah Hernandez. keep going, we'll Ionadi targeted a playoff spot Hernandez, a native of get stronger." as a goal for the Blue Devils, Trinidad and Tobago, initially pointing to the current moved to Canada with the intent Oakville Blue Devils National Hockey League playof playing for the Lynx. When coach Phil Ionadi offs as proof that anything can contract talks hit a snag, the 19year-old opted to play with the Blue Devils happen in the postseason. Following this weekend's contest against this season before he will head to Belgium to the Stallions, Oakville will play its home pursue a professional career in the fall. "In every league I've played in, I've scored opener next Sunday (June 4) at Bronte goals," said the forward. "This year hopeful- Stadium, also against Brampton. Game time ly won't be any different. I just enjoy playing is slated for 3 p.m. the game and I like to think I will bring For further information on the Oakville excitement." Blue Devils and the Canadian Soccer Another key addition to this year's team League, visit the league's Web site at is Denny Velastegui, who Goldlist believes www.canadiansoccerleague.ca. CANLAN ICE SPORTS ­ OAKVILLE · SUMMER HOCKEY CAMPS 2006 · LIMITED SPACES IN EACH CAMP. DON'T DELAY! · VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR WEEKLY OFFERINGS REGISTER TODAY 905-845-6989 www.icesports.com