BY NICHOLAS FIORE AND STAN ADAMSON
It’s the time of year when things start to heat up in the Canadian Soccer League.
To earn those three points for a victory is crucial for a number of teams as they reach desperately for one of eight playoff berths in both the First and Second Divisions and a chance at being part of Championship Day at Waterloo on Sunday, October 25.
In making an announcement earlier this week, league administrator Pino Jazbec explained that the SC Waterloo Region club will host this year’s championship at Warrior Field following three weeks of playoffs that get underway late September.
Currently, Serbian White Eagles are on top of the First Division, followed by perennial contender Toronto Croatia and close-up is SC Waterloo, the champions in 2013. Toronto Croatia has won most CSL titles with nine championships since entering professional soccer in 1956.
Then you have the surging York Region Shooters, the current CSL champions, who suffered five losses in their first six games of the season and are now on a roll without losing a game since June 12. They won seven games in a row, are now nine unbeaten, and now find themselves right up there bidding for first place.
After the Shooters, Toronto Croatia and SC Waterloo, and new club Toronto Atomic FC find themselves in pretty decent positions. Milton are hanging on by their limbs to clinch a playoff spot, and so is Brantford Galaxy and Burlington. Brampton City Utd and new club Scarborough SC are not too far behind and well within reach.
Getting closer to the action is London City, and despite their ‘Never Say Never’ attitude it may be too late for Niagara United which have already been to the falls and now sit at the bottom of the First Division table.
In the Second Division the race to claim a playoff spot is really tight with 10 clubs in the mix for eight playoff berths. SC Waterloo reserves appear to have a comfortable lead, but knocking on their door is Milton reserves, the new and talented Toronto Atomic FC reserves, Burlington SC reserves, York Region Shooters reserves and Brantford Galaxy reserves, the Niagara United second string and Serbian White Eagles. Just sitting outside the playoff picture are Brampton City Utd reserves and the Toronto Croatia B team.
With the season now well past the half way point, the First Division scoring race is close throughout.. Leading is, Zdenko Jurcevic from Brantford Galaxy SC, followed by Sahjah Reid of Serbian White Eagles, Adis Hasecic of SC Waterloo and Richard West of York Region Shooters.
The Second Division is tight as well with Nikola Miocovic of SC Waterloo B on top, followed by Amardo Oakley from Burlington SC B, Ed Syllie of SC Waterloo B and Adrian Smajic of Milton B.