Toronto Croatia won its tenth CSL championship since entering professional soccer in 1956 to be one of the highlights of the 2015 season just ended. Here are just a few of many more highlights and items of interest from a busy and exciting 2015 season. And there’s more to follow……..
When Richard West struck five goals in a 9-1 York Region Shooters thrashing of Niagara United on September 25 no one expected the 30 year old striker to repeat the scoring spree two days later at London City. The 10 goals in three days vaulted West into winning the CSL First Division scoring title with 23 goals, two in front of Brantford Galaxy’s Zdenko Jurcevic who led the scoring race most of the season to be pipped right at the end.
When Serbian White Eagles were beaten 3-1 by York Region Shooters on August 21 it ended an 11-game unbeaten streak, but the unbeaten string all but assured the Mississauga-based club the First Division title, so convincing was their lead at the top of the standings. Serbian Eagles’ strong play and championship form was attributed to strengthening of the side by several signings from Europe early in the year.
The Canadian Soccer League is a men’s professional league but in the background are a number of women who year after year make a strong contribution to CSL affairs and the most outstanding of these was presented the Paul Harry Gauss Award at the league’s Annual Awards Night on October 24. Cyndy De Thomasis of York Region Shooters was voted to be the recipient of the award which recognizes the individual who has best demonstrated hard work, dedication and allegiance in the interests of the CSL during 2015.
MVPs are also special people and voted the most valuable player in the First Division was Josip Keran of Toronto Croatia and in the Second Division it was Arsenije Japalak, 20, of Brantford Galaxy reserves. Keran, a 30 year old attacking defender and team captain, who was the Defender of the Year in 2014, scored a number of key goals in the past season, 10 in all.
Scoring a hat-trick always attracts attention, but when forward Vladimir Vujovic scored two hat-tricks in succession with three goals in Burlington’s 5-0 defeat of Brampton City Utd on May 31 and repeat with three goals in his team’s next game 8-1 romp over Niagara United on June 6, that brought comments.
More to come…….