24 Sports Oakville Beaver www.aplushomes.ca Adam Campbell Broker of Record 905-844-4444 BROKERAGE I N D E P E N D E N T LY O W N E D A N D O P E R AT E D SPORTS EDITOR: JON KUIPERIJ Phone 905-845-3824 (ext. 255) Fax 905-337-5567 email sports@oakvillebeaver.com · WEDNESDAY, JULY 25, 2007 House league fun Stiff test for Longhorns as NFC playoffs near Young receivers contributing for 5-2 squad By Jon Kuiperij BEAVER SPORTS EDITOR ASHLEA WESSEL / SPECIAL TO THE OAKVILLE BEAVER LOOKING UPFIELD: Kira Scarlett of Navy Blue Jensen Tire (left) and Taegan Poles of Orange Pizza Pizza chase after the ball during the Oakville Soccer Club's under-9 house league tournament last weekend. Orange Pizza Pizza won the girls' B division with a 1-0 win over Navy Blue Jensen Tire in the final; other division winners were Sky Blue Soccer World (boys' A), White Deloitte (boys' B), Navy Blue BMO (boys' C), Sky Blue Soccer World (boys' D), Lime House Warmings (girls' A), Navy Blue Jensen Tire (girls' C) and Purple Oakville Beaver (girls' D). The Oakville Longhorns have shown they can still produce offensively without their go-to receiver. Now, as the postseason nears, the 'Horns hope to prove they can compete with the Northern Football Conference's elite. The Longhorns, winners of four straight games and virtually assured of a home game in the first round of the playoffs, will close out the regular season Sunday with a visit to the leagueleading Tri-City Outlaws (6-1). Oakville head coach Barry Emo concedes his 5-2 squad has little to gain in the contest as far as playoff seeding goes, but says there is still plenty of incentive to make a quality showing this weekend. "If you look at stats and records, us winning this game doesn't really do much for us," said Emo, noting the fourth-place Longhorns would lose tiebreakers with two of the three teams currently ahead of them in the standings. "That being said, there are things we want to get accomplished in this game. It's certainly a good test for our young kids to go out there and shine against one of the best teams in the NFC." Those lesser lights have indeed shone in recent action. Longhorns receiver Vaughan Swart, the league leader in touchdown receptions, has missed the past two games in order to attend a wedding in Europe, Emo said, and will also miss Sunday's game against the Outlaws. The team's other receivers have picked up the slack in Swart's absence. Nate Smith made four grabs for 83 yards and a touchdown in Oakville's 17-7 win over the Sarnia Imperials last weekend, while Will Mayhew followed up a 136-yard effort two weeks ago with another 73 receiving yards against Sarnia. Rick Rodrigues (64 yards), Chad Kennedy (34), Kyle Kneller and Tom Basous also caught passes versus the Imperials. "Statistically, our passing game has not dropped off a great deal yardagewise," said Emo, adding that quarterback-turned-receiver Michael Hyatt has also contributed. "All of these guys have had an opportunity to showcase their abilities. Instead of being in the shadow of Swart, they've been in the limelight." See Defence page 25 OAKVILLE SOCCER CLUB DAY SUNDAY JULY 29, 2007 FOR TEAMS/INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE PURCHASED OUR TFC PACKAGE BE SURE TO WEAR YOUR OAKVILLE UNIFORM OR OSC COLOURS AS WE CELEBRATE OAKVILLE AT BMO FIELD!! VS REGISTRATION STILL AVAILABLE FOR DEPARTURE FROM OAKVILLE SOCCER CLUB 1:30PM (Bring your ticket for boarding & arrive 15 minutes early to avoid delay) SUMMER CAMP #5 AUGUST 13-17 @ SHELL PARK SUMMER CAMP #6 AUGUST 20-24 @ SHELL PARK RANGERS FC CAMP JULY 30 - AUGUST 3 VISIT www.oakville-soccer.on.ca TO CONFIRM YOUR SPACE NOW!! Oakville Soccer Club The Oakville Beaver www.oakville-soccer.on.ca Sponsored by: A Proud Sponsor of Oakville Soccer Club