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24 Sports Oakville Beaver Sign up now for guitar, bass, drums, and piano OAKVILLE'S MUSIC STORE SPORTS EDITOR: JON KUIPERIJ Phone 905-845-3824 (ext. 432) Fax 905-337-5571 email sports@oakvillebeaver.com · WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2009 PHOTOS BY MICHAEL IVANIN / SPECIAL TO THE OAKVILLE BEAVER ONTARIO CHAMPS: The Oakville Red Gaels under-12 girls' soccer team won the Ontario Cup last weekend with a 1-0 win over the Unionville-Milliken Strikers. Above, Vanessa Cherepacha, Paige Culver, Jessica Koves and Daniela Paniccia (pictured clockwise from left) check out the trophy. Sarah Miocevich (pictured right, in white) scored the game-winning goal in the fifth minute of play. CURLING Affordable Recreation Monday - Friday Weekday Rate (9:00 am - 5:30 pm) U12 Gaels win Ontario Cup By Jon Kuiperij BEAVER SPORTS EDITOR NOW! Special OPEN HOUSE Try the Sport/Recreation of Curling Free during Qualified Instructors on hand Saturday, September 19th · 11:00 am to 3:00 pm Oakville Curling Club 224 Allan Street, Oakville (Parking off Reynolds) For membership and further information, please call 905-844-6982 our web site: www.oakvillecurlingclub.com Our e-mail address: oakvillecurlingclub@on.aibn.com VAUGHAN -- When he first met the Oakville Red Gaels, Lawrence Franco was pleasantly surprised. Franco was well aware of the strength of the Oakville Soccer Club's older girls' teams, having coached his daughters' squads the past several seasons. But, when he took over the under-12 Red Gaels this year, Franco quickly realized Oakville had plenty of younger talent as well. "I was extremely impressed with the skill level of the kids," he said. "That's a testament to the club's work preparing them at age nine, 10 and 11." Sunday at The Soccer Centre in Vaughan, that skill level was showcased on the provincial stage for the first time as the Red Gaels won the Ontario Cup championship with a 1-0 victory over the Unionville-Milliken Strikers. Sarah Miocevich provided the game's only goal, taking a cross from Alexandra Almeida and chipping the ball over the Unionville keeper from close range five minutes into the contest. The early goal settled the nerves of the Red Gaels, although Miocevich said much of the pressure on the team had been alleviated by its semifinal victory over the Vaughan Azzurri two weeks earlier. "The semifinals were more nerve-wracking," the 12- year-old Rotherglen School student said of the win over Vaughan, which required penalty kicks to decide. "I knew I would get a medal if I came here." With the early lead, Oakville went into a defensive shell. Unionville generated only one good scoring "The semifinals chance in the entire game, were more nervea free kick in the 20th wracking. I knew I minute that went over the would get a medal net, as Kiah Francis earned if I came here." the shutout. Franco said he doesn't Red Gaels player often coach his teams to Sarah Miocevich play completely defensiveminded, but did so Sunday because of the magnitude of the game. He also knew his team was more than comfortable playing one-goal games. "The team all year long has been very good at winning close games. It has tremendous confidence and just developed an attitude about winning, finding ways to do it," he said. The Ontario Cup championship added to an already excellent year for the Red Gaels, who won the South Region Soccer League's Elite Division title earlier this season. It was Oakville's first year in the league after being promoted from the Premier Division. "To me, the most important thing is winning your See Soccer page 27