November 11, 2021
Banner Season: Gryphons, Lions bring top-three ranks to championship stage for 2016 rematch
Burlington, Ont. - For the first time in 31 years, the Guelph Gryphons will serve as hosts for the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) Men's Soccer Championship, and after punching their ticket to the finale against one of their fellow nationally-ranked squads in the semifinal, they'll turn their attention to yet another, as they get set to battle the York Lions for OUA supremacy at Alumni Stadium on Saturday, November 13.
OUA Men's Soccer Championship | Fan Guide
Despite not having hosted the men's soccer finale since 1990, Guelph will certainly hope that history repeats itself come the 2021 edition, with that most recent hosting assignment ending in a championship victory in penalties over Toronto. That title may have been the program's first, but having also tasted banner season bliss in 2016, they are chomping at the bit to churn out their third title this weekend in front of the home crowd at Alumni Stadium.
One of the game's key head-to-head matchups to keep an eye on will be between the pipes, as both goalkeepers - Guelph's Svyatoslav Artemenko (Winnipeg, Man.) and York's George Tzimas (Vaughan, Ont.) - rank among the conference's elite. Beyond his contributions in the regular season, the former played a significant role in helping Guelph reach this year's finale, turning away a Carleton penalty kick in added time (94th minute) to secure the Gryphons' 1-0 victory last Saturday. He also prefaced that game-saving play with another stout performance in his team's quarterfinal win in penalty kicks against Ontario Tech just days prior.
The six clean sheets for the rookie Guelph keeper tied him with Tzimas for the most in the conference, and if either goalkeeper wants to add another to their 2021 numbers, they'll need to be at their best against some of the top offensive performers the OUA has to offer.
For the reigning bronze medalists, it will be the 2019 OUA West Division MVP at the forefront of their attack, as Alex Zis looks to cap off his final season with the Gryphons in style. Despite missing a good amount of time this year due to injury, the Oakville, Ont. native returned to the field for the team's semifinal win and when healthy, has proven to be one of the top playmakers and most dangerous set-piece takers in the country. The eighth overall pick in the 2019 CPL-U SPORTS draft, selected by Forge FC, will make his second appearance in the OUA's championship game and will look to put his award-winning talents on display to achieve a similar result in this encore gold medal game.
Another decorated Gryphon will help to anchor the team as a defensive midfielder. Ian Vidovich, the two-time OUA all-star and former all-rookie team member, isn't only a contributor in their own end; however, as he also produced one of his team's most important goals of the season. Trailing the Ridgebacks 1-0 in their recent quarterfinal match, the Guelph captain scored the equalizer in the 109th minute, a season-saving goal that ultimately helped position the Gryphons for the win in penalties.
With York hitting the road to take on this potent Guelph lineup, Lions head coach Carmine Issaco understands the challenge that lies ahead for his squad. "We have to go there [to Guelph], which is not an easy thing. They have a number of fantastic players that can make a difference. We've got to do what Carleton couldn't do and that is find actions to break them down. We also need to be careful with our counterattacks and restarts."
Looking to help York make good on those goals is a veteran group up front that has made them one of the most fearsome offensive, and all-around, units anywhere in the country. Prominent amongst the group is Dieu Merci Yuma, a fourth-year striker from Toronto, Ont., who tied for the OUA lead with 12 goals on the year. The kinesiology and health science major also chipped in with five assists for the No. 2 ranked Lions, showing that his contributions extend beyond his pristine ability to put the ball in the net. As a big, physical attacker with good feet, Yuma can impact the game at the drop of a hat and will look to do just that in their conference finale in Guelph.
Matching Yuma's five helpers this season, to go along with his six goals, was Soji Olatoye (Brampton, Ont.), who will bring his good pace and strong one-on-one attacking abilities to the championship stage. Throughout York's quest for the cup, the senior winger has been a vital figure, factoring in on a number of big markers in the playoffs, including a goal and a beautiful assist in his team's 3-2 semifinal win over the Rams.
Fellow fourth-year senior Omar Marzouk has also been a leading producer in the playoffs, putting his big-game experience to good use for the Lions. Returning to York for a second degree, he has stepped up with some timely tallies for York this season, with his most recent two goals coming in the team's postseason push. The North York, Ont. native has put his raw talent and incredible pace on display throughout his team's championship quest thus far, and while some of the opposition's attention may lean elsewhere when the talent-laden lineup hits the field, Marzouk's ability to capitalize on the resulting opportunities makes him another one to watch this weekend.
Recognizing the high-calibre roster that will be hitting the field for him, Issaco is hoping that his team can maintain their current level of play that brought them to this point. "We just need to keep doing what has been work us this year and we need our top guys to step up as they have been in the playoffs."
The potent play that has been on display has helped York reach Saturday's conclusion on a high, with their berth in the finale marking the eighth straight for the program. A win against Guelph would be their sixth title during that span, but in addition to their most recent championship match that resulted in a silver-medal finish, one that did not go their way was during that time was in 2016 when these two teams last met on the banner season stage. With the Blackwood Cup on the line five years ago, it was the Gryphons that overcame an early deficit to defeat the Lions 3-1, and while the majority of the players involved may be different, the goal for both sides will remain the same, which is to come away from Saturday's finale with the OUA championship in hand.
With the battle for the Blackwood Cup taking centre stage at the University of Guelph's Alumni Stadium, the No. 2 York Lions and No. 3 Guelph Gryphons are both poised to come away with the win. And when play gets underway in the OUA Men's Soccer Championship at 1:00pm on Saturday, November 13, fans can expect both finalists to bring their A-game for the banner season festivities.
Those unable to attend the game in person can tune in live on oua.tv, cbcsports.ca, and the CBC Gem app.
OUA Men's Soccer Championship | Fan Guide
Despite not having hosted the men's soccer finale since 1990, Guelph will certainly hope that history repeats itself come the 2021 edition, with that most recent hosting assignment ending in a championship victory in penalties over Toronto. That title may have been the program's first, but having also tasted banner season bliss in 2016, they are chomping at the bit to churn out their third title this weekend in front of the home crowd at Alumni Stadium.
One of the game's key head-to-head matchups to keep an eye on will be between the pipes, as both goalkeepers - Guelph's Svyatoslav Artemenko (Winnipeg, Man.) and York's George Tzimas (Vaughan, Ont.) - rank among the conference's elite. Beyond his contributions in the regular season, the former played a significant role in helping Guelph reach this year's finale, turning away a Carleton penalty kick in added time (94th minute) to secure the Gryphons' 1-0 victory last Saturday. He also prefaced that game-saving play with another stout performance in his team's quarterfinal win in penalty kicks against Ontario Tech just days prior.
The six clean sheets for the rookie Guelph keeper tied him with Tzimas for the most in the conference, and if either goalkeeper wants to add another to their 2021 numbers, they'll need to be at their best against some of the top offensive performers the OUA has to offer.
For the reigning bronze medalists, it will be the 2019 OUA West Division MVP at the forefront of their attack, as Alex Zis looks to cap off his final season with the Gryphons in style. Despite missing a good amount of time this year due to injury, the Oakville, Ont. native returned to the field for the team's semifinal win and when healthy, has proven to be one of the top playmakers and most dangerous set-piece takers in the country. The eighth overall pick in the 2019 CPL-U SPORTS draft, selected by Forge FC, will make his second appearance in the OUA's championship game and will look to put his award-winning talents on display to achieve a similar result in this encore gold medal game.
Another decorated Gryphon will help to anchor the team as a defensive midfielder. Ian Vidovich, the two-time OUA all-star and former all-rookie team member, isn't only a contributor in their own end; however, as he also produced one of his team's most important goals of the season. Trailing the Ridgebacks 1-0 in their recent quarterfinal match, the Guelph captain scored the equalizer in the 109th minute, a season-saving goal that ultimately helped position the Gryphons for the win in penalties.
With York hitting the road to take on this potent Guelph lineup, Lions head coach Carmine Issaco understands the challenge that lies ahead for his squad. "We have to go there [to Guelph], which is not an easy thing. They have a number of fantastic players that can make a difference. We've got to do what Carleton couldn't do and that is find actions to break them down. We also need to be careful with our counterattacks and restarts."
Looking to help York make good on those goals is a veteran group up front that has made them one of the most fearsome offensive, and all-around, units anywhere in the country. Prominent amongst the group is Dieu Merci Yuma, a fourth-year striker from Toronto, Ont., who tied for the OUA lead with 12 goals on the year. The kinesiology and health science major also chipped in with five assists for the No. 2 ranked Lions, showing that his contributions extend beyond his pristine ability to put the ball in the net. As a big, physical attacker with good feet, Yuma can impact the game at the drop of a hat and will look to do just that in their conference finale in Guelph.
Matching Yuma's five helpers this season, to go along with his six goals, was Soji Olatoye (Brampton, Ont.), who will bring his good pace and strong one-on-one attacking abilities to the championship stage. Throughout York's quest for the cup, the senior winger has been a vital figure, factoring in on a number of big markers in the playoffs, including a goal and a beautiful assist in his team's 3-2 semifinal win over the Rams.
Fellow fourth-year senior Omar Marzouk has also been a leading producer in the playoffs, putting his big-game experience to good use for the Lions. Returning to York for a second degree, he has stepped up with some timely tallies for York this season, with his most recent two goals coming in the team's postseason push. The North York, Ont. native has put his raw talent and incredible pace on display throughout his team's championship quest thus far, and while some of the opposition's attention may lean elsewhere when the talent-laden lineup hits the field, Marzouk's ability to capitalize on the resulting opportunities makes him another one to watch this weekend.
Recognizing the high-calibre roster that will be hitting the field for him, Issaco is hoping that his team can maintain their current level of play that brought them to this point. "We just need to keep doing what has been work us this year and we need our top guys to step up as they have been in the playoffs."
The potent play that has been on display has helped York reach Saturday's conclusion on a high, with their berth in the finale marking the eighth straight for the program. A win against Guelph would be their sixth title during that span, but in addition to their most recent championship match that resulted in a silver-medal finish, one that did not go their way was during that time was in 2016 when these two teams last met on the banner season stage. With the Blackwood Cup on the line five years ago, it was the Gryphons that overcame an early deficit to defeat the Lions 3-1, and while the majority of the players involved may be different, the goal for both sides will remain the same, which is to come away from Saturday's finale with the OUA championship in hand.
With the battle for the Blackwood Cup taking centre stage at the University of Guelph's Alumni Stadium, the No. 2 York Lions and No. 3 Guelph Gryphons are both poised to come away with the win. And when play gets underway in the OUA Men's Soccer Championship at 1:00pm on Saturday, November 13, fans can expect both finalists to bring their A-game for the banner season festivities.
Those unable to attend the game in person can tune in live on oua.tv, cbcsports.ca, and the CBC Gem app.
