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28 Sports Oakville Beaver TRANSMISSION WADE SEYMOUR HALTON SPECIALIST 559 SPEERS ROAD, UNIT 3 905-842-0725 SPORTS EDITOR: JON KUIPERIJ Phone 905-845-3824 (ext. 255) Fax 905-337-5567 email sports@oakvillebeaver.com · FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2006 The thrill of victory Raiders, Strikers fall in provincial soccer semis By Jon Kuiperij BEAVER SPORTS EDITOR SABRINA BYRNES / SPECIAL TO THE OAKVILLE BEAVER The Oakville Soccer Club's last hopes for another Ontario Cup title this year were extinguished last weekend in provincial semifinal action. The under-12 boys Raiders were blanked 1-0 Saturday by the Ajax Strikers, while the under-17 tier 2 boys Strikers fell 5-0 to the North York Armour Heights the following day. Another local Ontario Cup hopeful was eliminated earlier in August as the under-16 tier 1 boys Blue Stars, two-time provincial champions and national title-winners in 2004, lost 2-0 to Mississauga in the quarter-finals. Oakville did win an Ontario Cup championship earlier this season as the under-15 girls Phantoms were victorious at the Ontario Summer Games, giving the local club at least one provincial title in each of the past five years. The club had three Ontario Cup champions in 2005. "As a whole, when you have... teams that progress as far as our teams did, that's an indication of success," said Oakville Soccer Club president Neil Brown. "It's an interesting game in that on any given day the ball can bounce any way. We've got to look at it that our teams are there and competing." Brown said the club does not target a specific number of Ontario Cup titles each season, using the provincial playdowns as only one indicator of its success. Brown also measures progress by the number of teams the club has competing in the Ontario Youth Soccer League or South Region Soccer League's Elite Division, as well as the number of players moving up through the system each year. Club pleased with overall results "We're pleased with the results, on an overall basis, that the club has achieved at the rep level this year," said Brown. "But it's not all about rep. It's what are we doing to develop the majority of the players within our system that can be developed. We've made a lot of positive strides in that regard and there's more positive things to happen in the future." The club president added that Oakville players Alex Semenets and Caroline Szwed were both selected to national under-16 teams this season, joining the likes of Kara Lang, Diana Matheson and Amanda Cicchini as local products to join Canadian squads. Two local men's teams, the Oakville CNS Club Livno and Oakville Wisla United, were also eliminated in last weekend's Ontario Cup semifinal round, with the Livno losing 1-0 to Scarborough GS United and the United dropping a 3-2 decision to Ottawa St. Anthony's Premier. Neither the Livno or United, however, are affiliated with the Oakville Soccer Club, Brown said. Meanwhile, five Oakville Soccer Club boys' teams have reached League Cup championship games, according to the club's website. The under-11 A Explosion, u12 A Raiders, u12 B Predators, u16 B Rebels and u17 Strikers will all play for South Region Soccer League titles Sept. 16 in Hamilton. -- Jon Kuiperij can be reached at sports@oakvillebeaver.com. WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS: Members of the Oakville Little League rookieball Cardinals (in red) celebrate after recording the final out in their 7-3 victory over the Mariners last weekend at Cornwall Park, clinching their division championship. Other champions included the Blue Jays (A), Mariners (AA), Pirates (major) and Mariners (junior). Slumping Blue Devils in need of win Soccer squad 1-3-3 in last seven games but still leads division In a 22-game season, it's unlikely the National Division. The Laval a team can register only one win Dynamites and St. Catharines during a seven-game stretch and still Wolves are two and three points lead its division. behind Oakville, respec"We're still in Yet, thanks to both a tively, but both squads strong start and the medi- first place. have only four games left ocrity of their rivals, that's We're fortunate to play. what the Oakville Blue we started off The defending league Devils have managed to very well." champion Blue Devils do. dropped to 1-3-3 in their With six games remain- Blue Devils past seven games with a ing in their Canadian coach Phil Ionadi 3- 2 loss to the Italia Soccer League schedule, Shooters Sunday at the Blue Devils (7-5-4) hold a tenu- Bronte Athletic Field. Oakville head ous one-point lead on the 7-6-3 coach Phil Ionadi isn't about to push Brampton Stallions for top spot in the panic button, having experienced a similar midseason slump last year when he captained the Blue Devils' title-winning team, but knows his squad needs to reverse its fortunes in a hurry. "We're still in first place. We're fortunate we started off very well," said the coach, whose club went 5-21 in its first eight games. "But winning the division is a priority that we have to do. (Today's game against the North York Astros) is a must-win." Ionadi attributed much of the Blue Devils' recent struggles to injuries and suspensions. Miles See Travel page 29 CANLAN ICE SPORTS ­ OAKVILLE SEPTEMBER PRE-SEASON CONDITIONING CAMPS BEGINS THE 1ST WEEK OF SEPTEMBER MAKE SURE YOUR CHILD IS READY FOR THE HOCKEY SEASON! REGISTER TODAY 905-845-6989 www.icesports.com