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By Dan Plouffe
It’s rare sight – perhaps never before seen even – but midway through their seasons a pair of local soccer teams find themselves at the top of the standings in the same division of the highly-competitive Ontario Youth Soccer League.
With just one loss in 10 games alongside five wins and four ties, the Ottawa South United Force lead the OYSL under-14 boys’ east division, while the Gloucester Hornets are just three points back with four wins, two losses and four ties.
“We probably didn’t anticipate that,” acknowledges OSU club head coach Paul Harris. “I think we were both surprised because both ourselves and Gloucester are up there early.”
In the previous two seasons, only once have two local clubs stayed above the relegation line in the same age group (finishing third and fourth), while 15 out of 26 teams were demoted back to the regional level. The historical struggle for local OYSL entries kept the Hornets’ expectations in check heading into their first foray at the top provincial level.
“To be honest, we were very unsure. We knew we had a strong team but we also knew the strength of the league,” signals Gloucester U14 boys’ coach Hanny El-Magraby. “We had a lot of mixed feelings, but we wanted to at least give these boys the opportunity to give it a try.
“They worked very hard in pre-season training, they committed to it, and to their system, and they’ve played incredibly well to this point. I’m very proud of them.”
El-Magraby says his team’s success comes from a strong commitment to playing a physical game – despite a number of players who are considerably smaller than many opponents – while maintaining tactical discipline, and moving the ball well.
“Passing a lot in this league against the bigger, faster sides is not easy, but they’re committed to it and they’ve done an extremely good job,” El-Magraby adds. “Their confidence is growing after every weekend.”
Gloucester striker leads OYSL scoring
A testament to confidence fueling the team’s success came in a June 21 home game against North Mississauga. Seemingly destined for a scoreless draw late in added time, North Mississauga earned a corner kick, but Gloucester defended well and caused a turnover, setting Jonathan David free on a break for half the pitch. He was taken down in the penalty area, and went on to convert the penalty kick, with the final whistle coming seconds later.
“I didn’t think we’d get that kind of chance,” recalls David, who felt nervous and stressed about the possibility of missing the penalty kick but fired a confident boot to the left corner nonetheless. “I was very happy. It was a very important win in our league.”
The Grade 9 Louis-Riel high school student has reveled in the opportunity to compete at the highest provincial level, scoring a remarkable 15 goals in 10 matches to lead the league in scoring by seven goals.
“I like it a lot. We’re getting good competition, and we’re getting better,” signals David, who’s enjoyed sharing the new experience with a group of close-knit teammates. “I’ve been with them for the last three years. They’re like my second family.”
OSU grows while in 1st
OSU experienced the opposite emotions as Gloucester on the same weekend. The Force led 2-1 at home on June 22 against Oakville before their opponents leveled the score in the dying minutes.
“We’ve found with the OYSL that it’s a learning curve,” notes Harris, who was calling the shots that day in place of regular coach Russell Shaw. “These boys played in the regional level last year – played 16 games, won 16, scored 120, conceded five. All of a sudden they go to a different level and they have to get used to playing for 90 minutes.”
The Force have discovered a much more physical style of play provincially, and have struggled at times to remain calm and make the smart play after being involved in a battle for the ball.
“We have to find that nice happy medium between competing and being relaxed enough to play,” Harris underlines. “We think they’re a good group. We think they could be as good as our ’97 group, who were provincial champions.”
2013 wins boost local OYSL sides
With three breakthrough titles last season – OSU’s U16 boys’ OYSL champions, OSU’s U13 girls’ Ontario Cup and FC Capital United’s U17 girls’ OYSL east division and Quebec-Ontario Cup – there’s been a notable change in mentality for the region’s OYSL teams, Harris adds, stating that it’s no longer about surviving, it’s about competing for championships.
“We want to keep on emulating the successes at this level,” emphasizes the OSU director of three years. “I say to all our groups: ‘They set the benchmark. Now you’ve got to go and follow it.’”
Despite being locked in a chase for the top spot, the Gloucester and OSU squads are refreshingly complimentary to their local rivals.
“OSU is another club that’s very committed to development. They pushed through a very good 2000 group,” El-Magraby remarks. “We’ve been playing catch-up with them the last three years, I guess, but I’m glad to see there’s two strong Ottawa teams.”
In their lone meeting to this point on June 8 at George Nelms fields in Manotick, the clubs tied 2-2.
“After last year, we thought we were stronger than Gloucester, but they’ve strengthened massively,” Harris details. “We’re hoping both can challenge for the league. It would be phenomenal, wouldn’t it?”
More local teams in OYSL contention
OSU’s defending OYSL champs, now competing at the U17 level, are still in the running for a repeat crown, just two points out of first place with a 5-3 record.
The Nepean Hotspurs and OSU Force U16 girls find themselves in the midst of the most tightly-contested OYSL division, as just two points separates first place from last.
At 5-2-1, OSU sits atop the U14 girls’ standings, while 1-5 Capital United is tied at the bottom. The Ottawa Fury are off to a solid start in U18 girls’ OYSL play with a 2-1-2 record.
The West Ottawa Warriors are holding their own in U15 boys’ competition, carrying a 1-4-2 record despite allowing only two fewer goals than they’ve scored.
OSU and Cumberland look to be fighting to avoid relegation and maintain their OYSL spots in the U15 girls’ ranks, while the Capital United U16 boys and Gloucester U17 girls are in the same boat.