The Niagara College men's soccer program will move into uncharted waters in more ways than one on Saturday, October 19th when the team travels to Ottawa to face the Algonquin Thunder. The second round playoff matchup not only marks the deepest a Knights men's soccer program has ventured in the OCAA Playoffs, but the game will also serve as the first ever meeting between the two teams.
The Thunder captured the 2013 OCAA East Division title finishing the season with an impressive 6-0-2 record and are currently the number five ranked team in CCAA national rankings. The Thunder are looking to recapture the dominance the team displayed from 2004 to 2009 when they won five straight OCAA Provincial Championships.
The Knights have enjoyed a breakout campaign in 2013. In a season of firsts for men's soccer at Niagara, 2013 has seen the team defeat the CCAA's number two ranked Humber Hawks for the first time in school history, earn the distinction of being selected as the OCAA team of the week, and win the program's first ever playoff match.
The winner of Saturday's matchup will qualify for the OCAA Championship being held October 25-26th in Ottawa.
Heading into the matchup Niagara College men's soccer head coach Frank DeChellis discussed the Knights' preparation in training this week.
"The mood at training is as it's been all season; loose, fun, competitive and busy. The guys enjoy each other's company and motivate each other. Our session plans revolve around what we saw in Friday's St Clair game. As a team we have watched the game film so they know the steps we need to take on Saturday."
A balanced team-based game plan has been the Knights' strategy all season. With depth at virtually all positions, the Knights have dressed 25 different players this season, and only Kyle Brooks (Milton), Austin MacDonell (Pickering), Shaquille Gordon (Brampton), and John Sexton (Niagara Falls) have dressed in all nine of the team's matches.
The Knights last game came on Friday, September 11th when the team defeated the St. Clair Saints in the opening round of the OCAA Playoffs. With over a week between games Coach DeChellis commented "The guys want this game to happen. Having a full week to recover is good but it also makes people anxious to get back to competition. Our players will come hungry on Saturday."
Kickoff for Saturday's matchup is set for 3:00pm at the Algonquin Soccer Facility.
