Sunday, October 22nd saw the Niagara College men's soccer program advance to the OCAA Championship with a dominant 3-1 victory over the University of Toronto-Mississauga Eagles. The win sees the Knights advance to the OCAA Champinship tournament while the Eagles' season comes to an end.
The Knights jumped on the scorebaord early with a beautiful free kick goal by midfielder Jordi Amores (Niagara Falls) in the 7th minute. The former Holy Cross standout bent the ball around the defensive wall to put the Knights ahead. Amores is a proven playoff performer as the talented fourth year veteran recorded five playoff goals last season.
Amores put the Knights up 2-0 in the 58th, on a spectacular one-man effort the saw him convert a strike from just inside the 18 yard box. Second year defender David Fimiak (St. Catharines) stretched the Knights' lead to three in the 70th minute. The Eagles notched a penalty kick goal with no time remaining on the clock.
"Our entire roster gave us the confident boost we needed" said Knights men's soccer head coach Frank DeChellis. "Depth is important because you can't work your first 11 like rented mules and the support players need minutes to be confident to play when called. We can start anybody next game and be confident with the squad."
The win sees marks the fifth straight season Niagara has won their opening round playoff matchup. Additionally, 2017 marks the third straight OCAA Championship appearance for the Knights. The team will face the George Brown Huskies on OCtober 26th at 12:00pm at Fleming College in Peterborough. The game will serve as a rematch of the 2016 OCAA Bronze medal match.
