OUA men's soccer kicks off 2012 season

HAMILTON, Ont. - A new season of OUA men's soccer kicks off this week, beginning a busy two months for the sport. Seventeen universities will seek to capture the Ontario University Athletics Championship title, which takes place in early November.
 
The McMaster Marauders and Toronto Varsity Blues met in the 2011 OUA final, with the Marauders winning, 3-1. Marauder goals were scored by Paterson Farrell, from Oakville, Ontario (2) and Brandon Gutierrez of Brampton, Ontario. Both players are back this year, as McMaster looks to defend its hard-earned title. Mario Kovacevik (Woodbridge, Ont.) scored Toronto's lone goal. When these two teams met in the finals three years ago, McMaster won 1-0 in penalty kicks. Toronto claimed the title back in 2010, beating the York Lions in penalty kicks, also 1-0.
 
Both McMaster and Toronto enter the 2012 season as heavy favourites, followed closely by the York Lions and the Carleton Ravens. York and Carleton lost to McMaster and Toronto in their respective semi-finals last season, though the two teams finished at the top of the Eastern and Western conferences, and should not be counted out.
 
OUA men's soccer kicks off Thursday, August 30th at LU Field, with the Nipissing Lakers taking on the Laurentian Voyageurs. Both clubs play out of the Eastern conference. While the Voyageurs lost in the quarter-finals to the Carleton Ravens last year, the Nipissing Lakers are eyeing a post-season appearance, after failing to qualify in 2011.
 
Friday night sees the Western Mustangs and the UOIT Ridgebacks open their respective seasons at Vaso's Field. Both play out of the Western conference. Western lost to the Windsor Lancers in the first round of the playoffs last year, 4-2, while UOIT was far from qualifying.
 
On Saturday afternoon, five more games take place: Trent vs. Laurentian (LU Field), Windsor vs. UOIT (Vaso's Field), Toronto vs. Carleton (Raven's Nest), Laurier vs. York (York Default), and Waterloo vs. Guelph (Gryphon Soccer Complex).
 
Sunday, September 2nd marks another five games, including season openers for the RMC Paladins, Queen's Golden Gaels, and Ryerson Rams.

Defending champion McMaster Marauders do not play until the following Wednesday, September 5, in Waterloo. Then, they are back home at Ron Joyce Stadium on September 8, when the Windsor Lancers are in town.
 
The OUA regular season runs until Sunday, October 21, when the final 8 games of the season take place. Twelve teams will make the playoffs, in a single knockout format. The top two teams in each conference get a 'by' to the quarter-finals.