November 1, 2006
OUA MEN�S SOCCER FINAL FOUR KICKS OFF AT BROCK THIS WEEKEND
Hamilton, Ontario - One thing is certain, the OUA will declare a new champion this weekend in St. Catharines. When Varsity Blues midfielder Mike Bialy sent a dazzling ball across to Evan Milward, who found the back of the net in overtime, the defending champion Carleton Ravens were sent packing. The stage is now set for a wide-open OUA Final Four presented by Wilson, as Toronto battles Brock and Queen's wrestles Western Ontario.
Toronto (8-3-3) is no stranger to postseason success. The Blues worked their way to a 2005 CIS silver medal after dropping the OUA final last season to the Ravens. They sought revenge against Carleton in this year's quarter-final and now look to return to the national tournament as the OUA's top seed. Bialy led the seventh-ranked Blues in 2006 with seven goals but had plenty of assistance in the scoring department. Milward potted six markers and Alexander Raphael scored five goals. This is an offensive-minded team that likes to take a lot of shots. They are exciting to watch but will have to be careful in the back half of the field as they also averaged one goal against per game.
Ranked third in the country, the host Brock Badgers (9-1-4) captured this year's OUA West Division title. After an early exit from the postseason in 2005, the Badgers return to the Final Four in 2006 looking to carry their momentum from a successful regular season. The most defensive-oriented team remaining, Brock gave up only seven goals in 14 games during the 2006 campaign, tying them with Carleton for the fewest goals against. Offensively, the Badgers are led by third-year midfielder Odean Thompson (Mississauga), who can also play the forward position. Thompson scored five goals throughout the season and leads a balanced offensive attack. Brock advanced to the Final Four with a dominant 6-0 victory over McMaster. The last meeting between the Badgers and Blues was October 2, 2005 when Toronto shutout Brock 4-0 in a regular season matchup. There's a lot more on the line this time around.
Queen's (10-3-1) has earned a No. 6 ranking on the CIS coaches poll. The Gales won more games than any other team in the OUA this season. They have only given up four goals in their past eight matches. Queen's knocked off Trent with a 4-1 score in the quarter-finals last weekend to surpass last season's outcome. They were eliminated from the playoffs in 2005 after a heartbreaking 2-1 overtime loss to Waterloo in the quarter-finals. In this edition of the OUA Final Four, Queen's enters the tournament as the top seed in the East and brings a confident style of play to the pitch.
Western Ontario (9-2-3) will look to improve from its bronze medal finish in 2005. The ninth-ranked Mustangs boast the top two scorers throughout the OUA in fourth-year forward Jason De Thomasis (Toronto) and Michel Daoust (Wheatley River, PEI). DeThomasis found the back of the net on nine occasions in 12 games while Daoust scored eight goals. Ranked as high as No. 3 earlier in the year, the Mustangs advanced to the Final Four after a 4-1 victory over Windsor in the quarter-finals. Five times this season, Western Ontario has scored three or more goals in a game. If there big three get on a roll, the Mustangs will be difficult to stop.
The winners of the semifinal games will not only have a chance for OUA glory in the title game, they will also qualify for the CIS Championship, scheduled for November 9-12 at the University of Alberta. For tournament scores, statistics and team information, visit the OUA Final Four Web site at OUA Final Four
Wilson is the official sponsor of the Men's and Women's OUA Final Four Championships.
- OUA -
Toronto (8-3-3) is no stranger to postseason success. The Blues worked their way to a 2005 CIS silver medal after dropping the OUA final last season to the Ravens. They sought revenge against Carleton in this year's quarter-final and now look to return to the national tournament as the OUA's top seed. Bialy led the seventh-ranked Blues in 2006 with seven goals but had plenty of assistance in the scoring department. Milward potted six markers and Alexander Raphael scored five goals. This is an offensive-minded team that likes to take a lot of shots. They are exciting to watch but will have to be careful in the back half of the field as they also averaged one goal against per game.
Ranked third in the country, the host Brock Badgers (9-1-4) captured this year's OUA West Division title. After an early exit from the postseason in 2005, the Badgers return to the Final Four in 2006 looking to carry their momentum from a successful regular season. The most defensive-oriented team remaining, Brock gave up only seven goals in 14 games during the 2006 campaign, tying them with Carleton for the fewest goals against. Offensively, the Badgers are led by third-year midfielder Odean Thompson (Mississauga), who can also play the forward position. Thompson scored five goals throughout the season and leads a balanced offensive attack. Brock advanced to the Final Four with a dominant 6-0 victory over McMaster. The last meeting between the Badgers and Blues was October 2, 2005 when Toronto shutout Brock 4-0 in a regular season matchup. There's a lot more on the line this time around.
Queen's (10-3-1) has earned a No. 6 ranking on the CIS coaches poll. The Gales won more games than any other team in the OUA this season. They have only given up four goals in their past eight matches. Queen's knocked off Trent with a 4-1 score in the quarter-finals last weekend to surpass last season's outcome. They were eliminated from the playoffs in 2005 after a heartbreaking 2-1 overtime loss to Waterloo in the quarter-finals. In this edition of the OUA Final Four, Queen's enters the tournament as the top seed in the East and brings a confident style of play to the pitch.
Western Ontario (9-2-3) will look to improve from its bronze medal finish in 2005. The ninth-ranked Mustangs boast the top two scorers throughout the OUA in fourth-year forward Jason De Thomasis (Toronto) and Michel Daoust (Wheatley River, PEI). DeThomasis found the back of the net on nine occasions in 12 games while Daoust scored eight goals. Ranked as high as No. 3 earlier in the year, the Mustangs advanced to the Final Four after a 4-1 victory over Windsor in the quarter-finals. Five times this season, Western Ontario has scored three or more goals in a game. If there big three get on a roll, the Mustangs will be difficult to stop.
The winners of the semifinal games will not only have a chance for OUA glory in the title game, they will also qualify for the CIS Championship, scheduled for November 9-12 at the University of Alberta. For tournament scores, statistics and team information, visit the OUA Final Four Web site at OUA Final Four
Wilson is the official sponsor of the Men's and Women's OUA Final Four Championships.
- OUA -
