York Region Shooters are looking to go from record breaking to brilliant when they take on Toronto Croatia in the CSL Championship Final this coming Sunday, October 26, a 4.15 kickoff.
Unbeaten in 20 games since kicking off the new season ln May, the Shooters have won 13 and tied five in an 18 game First Division regular season, followed by a quarterfinals playoff victory, and a semifinal win to advance the team from just north of Toronto to the championship final.
Sunday’s match is being played at fan-friendly Esther Shiner Stadium in North York, but what takes place on the playing surface will be anything but friendly with both teams having a reputation for playing with passion and purpose that will be heightened by the importance of the fixture, the championship of Canada’s premier soccer league.
The ‘big game’ late in the afternoon, will follow morning games with teams from the talent-laden Canadian Futbol Academy and the CSL Second Division Championship Final between Kingston FC reserves and SC Waterloo reserves at 1 pm. While the Second Division championship is secondary to the main event, it will be no less exciting with the Kingston second string having captured the Second Division in the regular season just ended, and Waterloo reserves are defending champions, having won the Second Division championship at Niagara Falls in 2013.
Compared to their opponents, York Region Shooters has had limited success with the major trophies since becoming a member of the Canadian Soccer League following an acquisition of the original pro York Region Shooters team in 2002. The team has one championship to its credit, but became known as a near-miss team following a number of championship defeats, such as the memorable 1-0 heartbreaker loss to Brampton Hitmen on October 5, 2003 and going down 4-0 to Toronto Croatia on October 11, 2004.
Formed in 1956, Toronto Croatia on the other hand, is the elder statesman of the CSL with no less than nine championship victories since 1970.
Esther Shiner Stadium, Toronto
Sunday, October 26, 2014
1 pm CSL SECOND DIVISION CHAMPIONSHIP
Kingston FC B vs SC Waterloo B
4.15 pm CSL CHAMPIONSHIP
York Region Shooters vs Toronto Croatia