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It was a well-played attractive encounter that could have gone either way at Esther Shiner Stadium despite a 3-1 Kingston FC lead over the Astros in the second half.

Kingston striker Guillaume Surot opened the scoring at the 20th minute mark from a penalty awarded by referee Jorge Alfredo Oyague and midfielder Paul Willis made it 2-0 for the visitors 9 minutes later.

North York midfielder Jose Melo cut the lead to 2-1 at 38 minutes, the score at the break.

Kingston’s Calalin Lichioiu made it 3-1 at 49 minutes, to be followed by the first of two goals by the home side’s Jose Goncalves De Sousa. He struck at 52 minutes and following a number of attempts by North York to get on even terms, the North York midfielder scored his second at 72 minutes to tie the game 3-3. It was a picture goal which started on the right wing for a hard cross which De Sousa drove into the net from close range out of reach of Kingston goalkeeper Jaroslav Tesar.

Kingston came close to winning the game in the late stages when Mademba Ba, who came into the game as a substitute midway through the second half, hit the crossbar at 86 minutes after taking a pass from Surot in a breakaway, and Ba then hit the post with a header two minutes later.

I was a close game at the St. Joan of Arc ground in Maple for the second win in as many games for York Region Shooters.

Following a scoreless first half, York Region forward Nathan Smith broke the deadlock with a goal at 81 minutes, beating Burlington goalkeeper Vladimir Vujasinovic from 6 yards for a 1-0 score that held to the final whistle.

Brampton City Utd scored twice in the second half to defeat London City 3-2, while two other games played in the CSL First Division Saturday, Niagara United FC at home to Serbian White Eagles and Toronto Croatia vs. Waterloo, both ended in a 1-1 tie.

Following a scoreless first half at Kalar Park in Niagara Falls, Serbian White Eagles’ defender Andre Orlando collected a left wing cross to tap the ball in from close range past Niagara goalkeeper Matthew Greco. The opening goal came at 61 minutes.

Niagara forward Mohammed Mohammed tied the game nine minutes later, heading in to beat Serbian Eagles’ goalkeeper Stefan Avramovic and while Niagara pressed for a late winner, the game ended 1-1.

Toronto Croatia midfielder Anes Handunovic  opened the scoring for the home side at the Hershey Field in Mississauga, scoring at the 13^th minute mark following a free kick and saved by Waterloo goalkeeper Imad Hakura before Handunovic drove the ball into the net. It was 1-0 at the break.

Waterloo midfielder Namanja Simeunovic beat Toronto Croatia goalkeeper Antonio Ilic with a drive into the bottom right corner to score the tying goal at 71 minutes and it was 1-1 at the final whistle.

Brampton forward Leaford Allen opened the scoring at nine minutes in the game with London City at the Hellenic Community Centre in London, a 1-0 score at the interval,  and Gent Miftari tied the game 1-1 at the 63^rd minute mark.

Olamilekan Jhon Fatoki put the visitors into the lead at 77 minutes and Brampton increased the lead to 3-1 two minutes later on a goal by defender Reisandri Fernandez Cervantes.

London’s Steve Knezavic cut the lead to 3-2 at 84 minutes, the final score in favour of Brampton.

There was one game in the CSL Second Division Friday night when Toronto Croatia B and SC Waterloo B played to a 2-2 draw.

The first goal of the new CSL season was struck by Burlington SC forward Danilo Richards, who found the net shortly after 7 pm on May 23, just 8 minutes after kickoff while playing for the club’s reserve team. Richards, 25, a Kitchener native, scored against Toronto Croatia B at the Hershey Centre in Mississauga. Burlington SC B went on to secure an opening season 2-1 away victory over last season’s Second Division title winner.

London City’s Marin Vucemilovic Grgic scored the first goal in the CSL First Division from the penalty spot to open the scoring against Niagara United FC at the 25th minute mark on May 25. Vucemilovic Grgic moved into the local spotlight in 2012 by winning the league’s MVP while playing for Toronto Croatia, the year the prolific midfielder won the league scoring title with 16 goals.

Tony De Thomasis, owner of York Region Shooters, president of De Thomas Financial, a leading company in the financial planning industry, is featured in the June issue of Money Sense Magazine, one of Canada’s popular and trusted publications in the financial planning and investment field.

Few will be aware that Joe Scanlon, president and co-owner of the CSL’s Kingston FC is also the Professor Emeritus and Director of the Emergency Communications Research Unit at Carlton University in Ottawa. As such, Joe, or Professor Scanlon if you prefer, gave a lecture to the Kingston Historical Society on May 21 about Kingston’s experience on the deadly Spanish Flu during the years 1918 – 20. Joe Scanlon and Kingston FC co-owner Lorne Abugov continue to enjoy a strong relationship with the Kingston community since establishing the professional team in that picturesque community two years ago.

London City took an early lead and went on to defeat North York Astros 2-1, while Burlington SC also scored a narrow 2-1 victory in defeating SC Waterloo, two games in the CSL First Division Sunday.

Midfielder Zvonko Bakula opened the scoring at the 4th minute mark for London City at Esther Shiner Stadium in North York when he picked up a loose ball to find the net past Astros’ goalkeeper Jason Moss from close range.

The visitors increased the lead to 2-0 when forward Aldin Kukic moved in in from the edge of the box to drive the ball into the net to the left of the goalkeeper, the goal coming at the 31st minute for a 2-0 score at the interval.

North York mounted a number of attacks on the London goal during the second half in an effort to get back into the game and the home side eventually scored at 82 minutes when midfielder Jose de Sousa drove the ball from 25 yards to catch the top left corner out of reach of London ‘keeper Vladimir Markotic. The Astros continued to press but failed to find an equalizer and the game ended 2-1, giving London City their first win of the new season.

Midfielder Adis Hasecic put the ball past Burlington SC goalkeeper Vladimir Vujasinovic at the Sherwood ground in Burlington, he put the current CSL champions in the lead at the 25th minute mark for a 1-0 Waterloo lead at half-time.

Elvis Nesic tied the game 1-1 from the penalty spot at 65 minutes for Burlington and defender Nenad Nikolic struck the winner when he headed into the net past Waterloo goalkeeper Imad Hakura at 85 minutes for a 2-1 final score It was Burlington’s second win of the season.

There were three games in the CSL Second Division Sunday, Milton FC defeated Winstars Shooters, 2-1, Toronto Croatia B were much the best in a 7-1 defeat of Serbian White Eagles B and Burlington SC B scored a 2-1 victory over SC Waterloo B.

Kingston FC defeated Niagara United FC 2-1 for their first win of the season and Toronto Croatia also opened their account with a 2-1 victory over Serbian White Eagles, two games in the Canadian Soccer League Saturday night.

Guillaume Surot struck twice in the home opener for Kingston at the Queen’s West Field, opening the scoring at the 29th minute mark. Mike Reilly equalized for Niagara United at 34 minutes for a 1-1 tie and Surot put the winning goal past Niagara goalkeeper Angelo Cavalluzzo from the penalty spot at 43 minutes, the score at half-time and at the final whistle.

Surot continues a hot scoring pace after leading the league with 28 goals in regular season play in 2013 and the French-born striker scored twice in the opening game 3-2 loss to York Region Shooters last Sunday.

Forward Sahjah Reid opened the scoring from the penalty spot for Serbian White Eagles at Lamport Stadium in downtown Toronto, driving the ball past Toronto Croatia goalkeeper Antonio Ilic at the 13th minute mark and the goal held up for a 1-0 score at the break.

Anes Handunovic drew level for Toronto Croatia, driving the ball past Serbian Eagles’ goalkeeper Stefan Avramovic to catch the top right corner at 72 minutes and Croatia’s Tihomir Maletic struck the winner on a rebound following a free kick headed against the crossbar at 77 minutes, 2-1 in favour of Toronto Croatia.

Reid was ejected by referee Josue Jalamillo at 83 minutes and Toronto Croatia were also reduced to 10 men when midfielder Peter Mingon was sent off at 90 minutes. A third player to be ejected, Thomas Patrick McLean of Serbian White Eagles was shown the red card in the same incident.

There was one game in the CSL Second Division Saturday with Kingston FC B defeating Niagara United FC B 4-1.

Kingston FC kickoff their home season Saturday following a narrow 3-2 defeat in the hands of York Region Shooters last weekend and judging by the ease with which Niagara United dismissed London City 4-1 on the same day, the eastern Ontario team, which won the CSL First Division last season, may just find it difficult to gain their first win of the new season.

The same goes for Toronto Croatia, which was surprised 2-0 at home by Burlington SC. They could be in for a tough game against their old rivals Serbian White Eagles back at Lamport Stadium in Toronto’s west-end where several clashes between these two teams were played just a few years ago and produced some of the best soccer seen in Toronto for some time.

There are ground changes and postponements in the upcoming weekend schedule, the First Division encounter between Burlington SC and SC Waterloo previously scheduled for Nelson Park has been relocated to Sherwood East, that’s an 8 pm kickoff , while the Brampton City Utd vs. York Region Shooters game has been postponed due to ground conditions. The Second Division game between Burlington SC B has also been relocated and the Brampton City Utd B vs York Region Shooters B game has also been postponed.
FIRST DIVISION

Sat May 31 Queen’s West Field 6:45 pm Kingston FC Niagara United
Sat May 31 Lamport Stadium 7.00 pm Serbian White Eagles vvsvs Toronto Croatia
Sun Jun 1 Esther Shiner 3:30 pm North York Astros London City
Sun Jun 1 Sherwood East 8.00 pm Burlington SC SC Waterloo

Sun Jun 1 Brampton City Utd York Region Shooters POSTPONED

SECOND DIVISION

Sat May 31 Queens West Field 4:30 pm Kingston FC B Niagara United B
Sun Jun 1 Bishop Reding HS 12.00 pm Milton SC Winstars Shooters
Sun Jun 1 Eglinton Flats 4.00 pm Serbian White Eagles B Toronto Croatia B
Sun Jun 1 Sherwood East 5.00 pm Burlington SC B SC Waterloo B

Sun Jun 1 Brampton City Utd B York Region Shooters B POSTPONED

Forward Leaford Allen struck an opening season hat-trick to lead Brampton City Utd to a 3-1 defeat of the current CSL champions SC Waterloo, while Serbian White Eagles opened their season with a 2-0 victory over North York Astros and York Region Shooters scored a 3-2 win over Kingston FC, three games in the Canadian Soccer League Sunday. Leaford found the net past Waterloo goalkeeper Imad Hakura at 46 minutes at Warrior Field, Waterloo, for a 1-0 score at the break. Waterloo midfielder Kiril Dimitrov tied it 1-1 at 57 minutes and Leaford completed his hat-trick with goals at 66 minutes and 93 minutes just before the final whistle, a 3-1 final score. York Region Shooters midfielder Hector Mackie opened the scoring at 47 minutes at the St. Joan of Arc ground at Maple, just north of Toronto and Kingston forward and league-leading goalscorer last season, Guillaume Surot, tied the game from the penalty spot following a hand ball at 63 minutes. Mackie put the Shooters in front, 2-1, his second goal at 70 minutes and Adrian Pena increased the lead for the home side with a goal at 73 minutes. Surot reduced the lead to 3-2 with his second goal at the 80th minute mark and it was 3-2 at the final whistle.

“Kingston played well as they usually do, so it was good to get the result, especially in the home opener,” said York Region manager John Pacione following the final whistle. Serbian White Eagles opened the scoring at Esther Shiner Stadium at the 41st minute mark when forward Sahjah Reid collected a save from Astros’ goalkeeper Kevin Lumsden Pinto to drive the ball into the net and it was 1-0 at half-time. Reid scored a second goal when he centered the ball from the corner flag and Pinto failed to collect the ball which drop pped over the line at 61 minutes for a 2-0 the score at the final whistle.

Two goals by midfielder Keith Makubuya assured Niagara United of a convincing 4-1 victory over visiting London City at Kalar Park Saturday night, while in one other game in the opening weekend of the Canadian Soccer League regular season, Burlington SC surprised Toronto Croatia with a 2-0 win at the Hershey Centre in Mississauga.

Marin Vucemilovic Grgic opened the scoring for the visitors when he beat Niagara ‘keeper Angelo Cavalluzzo from the penalty spot giving London City a 1-0 lead at the 25th minute mark, but Niagara’s Matt Waddington tied the score 1-1 at 35 minutes. JohnGrabowski put Niagara into a 2-1 lead at 40 minutes and it was 2-1 at the break.

Makubuya, a former Toronto FC midfielder, struck at 49 and 65 minutes to complete the scoring, 4-1 at the final whistle.

Toronto Croatia has an impressive record since entering professional soccer in 1956, but fell short in the CSL First Division and in their championship bid in 2013. The previous year, 2012, was a different story, however, winning both the First Division and CSL Championship. The club appears determined to capture at least one of these titles this new season but failed to make the start they were looking for at the Hershey Field in Mississauga on Saturday night.

Forward Marco Machado put Burlington into the lead at 45 minutes with a drive from just outside the 18 yard line, a rebound after Toronto Croatia goalkeeper Antonio Ilic punched the ball out to clear his lines.

It was 1-0 at the interval, but Burlington midfielder Darren Chamber made it 2-0 at 57 minutes when he headed past Ilic from a free kick, a 2-0 final score.

There was one Second Division game played Saturday when Niagara United B and Winstars Shooters played to a scoreless tie.

The Canadian Soccer League is an old league, but it’s getting younger.

The league’s origins go back to 1926 and through the decades attractive, professional soccer has been the order of the day – or night. There was little room for young players with talent years ago, a player had to be ready-made from high level soccer elsewhere.

Ostap Steckiw, a Ukrainian star who earlier played for Ukraina Lviv, Charleroi, Nice, Valenciennes, Lyon, was typical. So was Ted Purdon, from South Africa (Birmingham City, Sunderland), Bobby Nicol, a Scot (Edinburgh Hibernians) and hundreds of players who came to Canada in the 50s 60s and 70s, to seek a place in the National Soccer League, the forerunner league of the CSL.

“But that’s changing and quickly,” said Bruno Ierullo, owner and general manager of today’s North York Astros who entered the NSL in 1991.  “The league’s getting younger and while some of our clubs are still signing experienced players from overseas, many of the First Division teams are also signing very good young players and the CSL Second Division is almost entirely for player development, he added.”

The younger CSL kicks off its new season this weekend with a slate of five First Division matches Saturday and Sunday – Astros are at home Serbian White Eagles at Esther Shiner Stadium Sunday afternoon, the current CSL champions SC Waterloo host Brampton City United Sunday at 7, and the team that caught everyone’s eye with their impressive First Division win in 2013 – Kingston FC – are visiting Maple, just north of Toronto, to be the opposition for the York Region Shooters’ home opener.

There are also five Second Division games this weekend, starting with the Toronto Croatia B home opener against Burlington SC B at the Hershey Field on Friday night, that’s a 7 o’clock evening kickoff.

                                                             CSL FIRST DIVISION OPENERS

Sat. May 24 Hershey Field 7 pm Toronto Croatia vs Burlington SC

Sat. May 24 Kalar Sports Park 7 pm Niagara United FC vs. London City

Sun. May 25 Esther Shiner 3.30 pm North York Astros vs Serbian White Eagles

Sun. May 25 St. Joan of Arc 6.30 pm York Region Shooters vs Kingston FC

Sun. May 25  Warrior Field 7 pm SC Waterloo vs Brampton City Utd

CAN WATERLOO REPEAT ?
The best is yet to come: president Tony Kocis
TORONTO – Tuesday, May 19, 2014 – Enormous personal satisfaction enveloped SC Waterloo head coach Lazo Dzepina as the final whistle blew to end the Canadian Soccer League championship final at the Kalar Sports Park in Niagara Falls late Sunday afternoon on November 3.
Dzepina wrote the script after all, a scheme to bottle up a prolific opposition trio that had everything to do with the Kingston team finding the net more than any other in the league, resulting in an impressive, relentless week-by-week goal production that contributed more than anything else to the eastern Ontario team winning the First Division title.
Dzepina was aware striker Guillaume Surot had just hours earlier been feted with no less than three awards including the CSL’s MVP for his goalscoring, and that the native of Vihiers, France was determined to cap the season with much of the same today.
The Waterloo defence worked the script and the lone Kingston goal – by midfielder Nathan Klemencic in the 3-1 result – meant the well-marked goalscoring trio had failed, and this led to a Waterloo victory.
“We added two important players and following a regular season loss to Kingston we worked on a number of things to give us a good chance if we were to meet this team in the playoffs and It all came together, ” said Dzepina through interpreter Zoran Kukic following the final whistle.

“We do believe there is more to come,” said a confident Waterloo president Tony Kocis recently. We certainly peaked at the right time last season but our best soccer is in the future.” The club represents a large section of Southwestern Ontario and is now entering its fourth season in the CSL.

Waterloo will be bidding for a top four finish at the end of the upcoming regular season – the club finished fifth in 2013 to just miss home advantage in the playoffs. Another goal is to be placed in the top three in the CSL’s competitive Second Division.

The team has re-signed Kitchener native Jake Inglis, to a professional contract that will see the young defender stay until 2016 and a two new signings are expected soon following a busy European scouting mission by the head coach. Dzepina, 46, played professionally in Europe before arriving in Canada to play a brief period for the CSL’s Hamilton Thunderbirds in 2005. The highly regarded coach holds a UEFA licence and coached NK Dinara of Croatia, his last club in Europe before settling in Canada.
While it is clear the will to win is an integral part of the SC Waterloo culture, reflected by the unprecedented double header achievement to include the Second Division Championship win on November 3 – it also speaks of the quality of the organization in terms of player development from which young players in the region will be the ultimate beneficiaries.
And they are wondering now if Waterloo can repeat in 2014.

Media recap: SC Waterloo, just three years in the Canadian Soccer League, stunned just about everyone by reaching the CSL Championship Final and the Second Division Championship Final, a double-header event at Kalar Park, Niagara Falls on November 3, 2013.

Waterloo went on to win both games convincingly, defeating First Division winner Kingston FC, 3-1, and the Second Division winner Toronto Croatia B, 2-0.
No club had previously won both finals.