November 5, 2004
WESTERN HOSTS OUA MEN�S SOCCER FINAL FOUR
Mustangs seek repeat on home pitch
London, ON - Four of the nation's top-ranked teams will compete in London this weekend in a quest to capture the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) title at the Men's Soccer Final Four on Saturday, November 6 and Sunday, November 7. The defending OUA champion University of Western Ontario Mustangs will host the Brock University Badgers in the opening game Saturday (12:00 pm), while the Carleton University Ravens and University of Toronto Varsity Blues meet in the second match of the afternoon (2:00 pm).
There are certainly no weak links in this impressive field -- every one of the sides involved captured their respective division titles during the regular season, helping each climb into the Top Ten of the CIS rankings. Western (7-2-1) enters the Final Four ranked fifth in the country, with Carleton, Brock and Toronto occupying spots six through eight. Little has separated the sides in terms of results in 2004 so the Mustangs hope home field advantage will provide some additional inspiration as they try and secure back-to-back OUA championships.
"It's the first time Western has hosted the Final Four, so we're pretty excited," said Mustangs' coach Rock Basacco. "To be able to play at home, every team would like to do that."
Despite the familiar surroundings, Basacco and his men understand the difficulties they face in playing the Badgers, a strong defensive side only two years removed from winning a national championship. Brock was an absolute force in its own end of the field setting the pace in the OUA with a mere five goals allowed in 10 matches. Western will employ a 3-5-2 formation in an effort to break the Badgers' disciplined back line with striker Jason De Thomasis being a focal point of the offence. DeThomasis was the hero last week as he bagged the only goal in Western's 1-0 defeat over Queen's to advance to the Final Four. After tallying three goals in the quarterfinal win against Laurentian last week, the Badgers will also have to be at their creative best to beat Mustangs' keeper Haidar Al-Shaibani. The surprising hometown rookie has conceded just three goals in six appearances this season.
"He certainly has been a key player on our team," Basacco said of Al-Shaibani.
The Varsity Blues already had their nerves tested against the McMaster University Marauders in the quarters when they required three late strikes in the final 15 minutes of the match to overcome a 1-0 halftime deficit. Mike Bialy scored the crucial equalizer, while Faiz Karim and Sean Myers helped finish off the Marauders. Myers has been a rock for Toronto in 2004, averaging nearly a goal per match by netting six in seven games. That type of production could prove useful for the Blues given that East division winners Carleton boast the OUA's most prolific offence with three goals per game (30 goals for). That overwhelming desire to find the back of the net helped them amass a conference-high eight wins in 10 matches. The goals can come in bunches for the high-octane Ravens - third-year student and Ottawa native Timothy Wakhanu Khaemba topped all OUA scorers with eight, while team-mate Andrew Park put home seven goals himself, including the decisive strike in Carleton's 2-1 win over the Laurier Golden Hawks last week.
The semi-final winners will meet Sunday at 2:00 pm in the championship game. The bronze medal match will get underway at 11:30 am.
(Source: David M. DiCenzo, Special to the OUA)
London, ON - Four of the nation's top-ranked teams will compete in London this weekend in a quest to capture the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) title at the Men's Soccer Final Four on Saturday, November 6 and Sunday, November 7. The defending OUA champion University of Western Ontario Mustangs will host the Brock University Badgers in the opening game Saturday (12:00 pm), while the Carleton University Ravens and University of Toronto Varsity Blues meet in the second match of the afternoon (2:00 pm).
There are certainly no weak links in this impressive field -- every one of the sides involved captured their respective division titles during the regular season, helping each climb into the Top Ten of the CIS rankings. Western (7-2-1) enters the Final Four ranked fifth in the country, with Carleton, Brock and Toronto occupying spots six through eight. Little has separated the sides in terms of results in 2004 so the Mustangs hope home field advantage will provide some additional inspiration as they try and secure back-to-back OUA championships.
"It's the first time Western has hosted the Final Four, so we're pretty excited," said Mustangs' coach Rock Basacco. "To be able to play at home, every team would like to do that."
Despite the familiar surroundings, Basacco and his men understand the difficulties they face in playing the Badgers, a strong defensive side only two years removed from winning a national championship. Brock was an absolute force in its own end of the field setting the pace in the OUA with a mere five goals allowed in 10 matches. Western will employ a 3-5-2 formation in an effort to break the Badgers' disciplined back line with striker Jason De Thomasis being a focal point of the offence. DeThomasis was the hero last week as he bagged the only goal in Western's 1-0 defeat over Queen's to advance to the Final Four. After tallying three goals in the quarterfinal win against Laurentian last week, the Badgers will also have to be at their creative best to beat Mustangs' keeper Haidar Al-Shaibani. The surprising hometown rookie has conceded just three goals in six appearances this season.
"He certainly has been a key player on our team," Basacco said of Al-Shaibani.
The Varsity Blues already had their nerves tested against the McMaster University Marauders in the quarters when they required three late strikes in the final 15 minutes of the match to overcome a 1-0 halftime deficit. Mike Bialy scored the crucial equalizer, while Faiz Karim and Sean Myers helped finish off the Marauders. Myers has been a rock for Toronto in 2004, averaging nearly a goal per match by netting six in seven games. That type of production could prove useful for the Blues given that East division winners Carleton boast the OUA's most prolific offence with three goals per game (30 goals for). That overwhelming desire to find the back of the net helped them amass a conference-high eight wins in 10 matches. The goals can come in bunches for the high-octane Ravens - third-year student and Ottawa native Timothy Wakhanu Khaemba topped all OUA scorers with eight, while team-mate Andrew Park put home seven goals himself, including the decisive strike in Carleton's 2-1 win over the Laurier Golden Hawks last week.
The semi-final winners will meet Sunday at 2:00 pm in the championship game. The bronze medal match will get underway at 11:30 am.
(Source: David M. DiCenzo, Special to the OUA)
