York Region marches on.
The Shooters won their most important game of the 2014 campaign with a 1-0 playoff semifinal defeat of North York Astros to extend an unbeaten stretch into 20 games. While doing so, the team from just north of Toronto earned a place in the CSL Championship Final to meet Toronto Croatia at Esther Shiner Stadium October 26.
It could be York Region’s impeccable defensive skills won this one – only 15 goals conceded in the 18-game regular season followed by a 3-0 shutout of Brampton City Utd in the quarterfinals – and while Sunday’s game could have gone either way, it all made for a tough proposition for any visiting team, including North York Astros.
Midfielder Hector Mackie scored the winner at the St. Joan of Arc ground following a scoreless first half and a long stretch into the second half. The goal came at 78 minutes when Mackie lifted the ball from 30 yards over advancing Astros’ goalkeeper Jason Lopes.
York Region Shooters enter the final game with a championship victory in 2006 when the team was known as Italia Shooters, while Toronto Croatia has taken the CSL championship four times in the last 10 years, in 2004, 2007, 2011 and 2012.
SC Waterloo B and Kingston FC B are the Second Division Championship finalists following their semifinal victories Sunday. Waterloo reserves defeated Milton FC 4-2 in overtime at RIM Park in Waterloo, while later in the day Kingston reserves were in control by a 5-1 score at the Queen’s West Field in Kingston.
Midfielder Adrian Smajic opened the scoring for Milton at 23 minutes, but Zoran Kukic equalized for the home side four minutes later — it was 1-1 at the break.
Nikola Miokovic put Waterloo into a 2-1 lead at the 75 minute mark, and Smajic struck his second goal at 86 minutes to put the game into extra time.
Miokovic scored twice in overtime for a hat-trick that won the game for the current CSL Second Division champions, a 4-2 score at the final whistle.
Forward Stephane Assengue opened the scoring for Kingston reserves at the ninth minute mark and Corey Faughnan increased the lead to 2-0. This was followed by a goal by midfielder Simon Schmitke for a 3-0 Kingston lead before Derek Paterson scored from the penalty spot for Niagara United to make it 3-1 following a pushing incident in the box.
Faughnan increased the lead to 4-1, a solid header from a corner kick, and Mademba Ba rounded the scoring to 5-1 with a solo effort during added time.