2016 League1 Ontario season

This article is about the men's season. For the women's season, see 2016 Women's League1 Ontario season.

League1 Ontario
Men's Division
Season2016
ChampionsVaughan Azzurri
Cup championsVaughan Azzurri
Matches played175
Goals scored733 (4.19 per match)
Top goalscorerElvir Gigolaj
(24 goals)
Best goalkeeperJoseph Kuta
(0.67 GAA)
Biggest home winTFC Academy 9–0 Master's
(July 10, 2016)
Biggest away winMaster's 2–8 Windsor
(July 16, 2016)
Master's 2–8 N. Miss.
(August 6, 2016)
ProStars 2–8 TFC Academy
(August 26, 2016)
Kingston 0–6 Vaughan
(September 25, 2016)
← 2015
2017 →

The 2016 Men's League1 Ontario season was the third season of play for League1 Ontario, a Division 3 semi-professional soccer league in the Canadian soccer pyramid and the highest level of soccer based in the Canadian province of Ontario.

This season saw the return of all but one of the teams which completed the previous season, as well as the addition of five new teams for the men's division.[1]

Changes from 2015

Five new teams joined the men's division for this season. Aurora United FC, North Mississauga SC, North Toronto Nitros, Toronto Skillz FC added new entries, while FC London moved over from the Premier Development League. One team (ANB Futbol) from 2015 did not renew their license, resulting in a 16-team competition and a change from a single-table format to a two-conference format.[2]

The league's cup tournament for the men's division will be a single-elimination competition; eliminating the group stage seen in previous editions.

On June 16, 2016, Toronto FC entered into a partnership with the Windsor Stars wherein the latter would become a "regional satellite club" of the former, who would in turn provide technical and coaching development. As part of the agreement, Windsor would become known as "Windsor TFC" in the future. The agreement does not affect the participation in L1O of either the Windsor Stars or the TFC Academy team.[3]

Teams

Team City Stadium Founded First season Head coach
Western Conference
FC London London, Ontario German Canadian FC Stadium 2008 2016 Croatia Mario Despotović[4]
North Mississauga SC Mississauga, Ontario Hershey Centre, Field 2 1982 2016 Trinidad and Tobago Rick Titus[5]
Oakville Blue Devils Oakville, Ontario Sheridan Stadium 1994 2015 England Duncan Wilde[6]
ProStars FC Brampton, Ontario Victoria Park Stadium 2015 2015 Hungary Josef Komlodi[7]
Sanjaxx Lions Toronto, Ontario Monarch Park Stadium 2012 2015 England Peter Mellon[8]
Sigma FC Mississauga, Ontario Hershey Centre, Field 1 2005 2014 Canada Bobby Smyrniotis[9]
Toronto FC Academy Toronto, Ontario KIA Training Ground 2008 2014 Scotland Stuart Neely[10]
Windsor Stars Windsor, Ontario McHugh Stadium 2004 2014 Canada Shane Topalovic[11]
Eastern Conference
Aurora United FC Aurora, Ontario Sheppard's Bush 1964 2016 Canada Jim Brennan[12]
Durham United FA Pickering, Ontario Kinsmen Park 2014 2014 Canada Sanford Carabin[13]
Kingston Clippers Kingston, Ontario Tindall Field, Queen's University 1971 2014 Canada Christian Hoefler[14]
Master's Futbol Toronto, Ontario L'Amoreaux Park 2012 2014 Andre Savelev[15]
North Toronto Nitros Toronto, Ontario Varsity Stadium 1980 2016 Cameroon Hermann Kingué[16]
Toronto Skillz FC Toronto, Ontario Birchmount Stadium 2008 2016 Trinidad and Tobago Leslie Fitzpatrick[17]
Vaughan Azzurri Vaughan, Ontario McNaughton Park 2014 2014 Canada Carmine Isacco[18]
Woodbridge Strikers Woodbridge, Ontario Vaughan Grove 1976 2014 Canada Peter Pinizzotto[19]

Standings

Each team played 22 matches as part of the season; two against every team in their own conference, and one against every team in the opposing conference. The top team from each conference met at the end of the season to determine the league champion and face the PLSQ league champion in the Inter-Provincial Cup.

Eastern Conference

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Vaughan Azzurri (C, X) 22 17 4 1 70 24 +46 55 League Championship
2 Woodbridge Strikers 22 15 2 5 52 17 +35 47
3 North Toronto Nitros 22 14 3 5 52 29 +23 45
4 Durham United FA 22 11 3 8 54 42 +12 36
5 Kingston Clippers 22 7 5 10 34 53 −19 26
6 Aurora United FC 22 4 3 15 27 66 −39 15
7 Toronto Skillz FC 22 3 4 15 32 63 −31 13
8 Master's Futbol 22 3 2 17 38 92 −54 11
Source: http://www.league1ontario.com/page/show/2309115-standings
(C) Champions; (X) L1 Cup winner

Western Conference

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 FC London 22 15 2 5 64 32 +32 47 League Championship
2 Sigma FC 22 14 2 6 48 28 +20 44
3 Toronto FC Academy 22 12 2 8 70 37 +33 38
4 North Mississauga SC 22 11 5 6 63 42 +21 38
5 Windsor Stars 21 9 1 11 44 42 +2 28
6 Oakville Blue Devils 22 8 4 10 38 43 −5 28
7 Sanjaxx Lions 21 5 1 15 23 56 −33 16
8 ProStars FC 22 4 3 15 24 67 −43 15
Source: http://www.league1ontario.com/page/show/2309115-standings

League Championship

The league champion is determined by a single-match series between the top-ranked teams from the western and eastern conferences.

October 15 FC London 2–4 Vaughan Azzurri Vaughan, Ontario
4:00 pm
  • Nafar 71'
  • Gigolaj 80'
 Report
Stadium: Ontario Soccer Centre
Attendance: 700

L1 Cup

The cup tournament is a separate contest from the rest of the season, in which all sixteen teams from the men's division take part. It is not a form of playoffs at the end of the season (as is typically seen in North American sports), but is more like the Canadian Championship or the FA Cup, albeit only for League1 Ontario teams. All matches are separate from the regular season, and are not reflected in the season standings.

The cup tournament for the men's division is a single-match knockout tournament with four total rounds culminating in a final match at the end of July, with initial matchups determined by random draw. Each match in the tournament must return a result; any match drawn after 90 minutes will advance directly to kicks from the penalty mark instead of extra time.[20]

Round of 16 Quarterfinals Semifinals Final
        
Sigma FC 1 (2)
Master's Futbol (p) 1 (3)
Master's Futbol 3
Toronto Skillz FC 1
Windsor Stars 1
Toronto Skillz FC 2
Master's Futbol 0
Vaughan Azzurri 3
Oakville Blue Devils 1 (4)
Vaughan Azzurri (p) 1 (5)
Vaughan Azzurri 3
Aurora United FC 2
Sanjaxx Lions 1 (1)
Aurora United FC (p) 1 (4)
Vaughan Azzurri 1
Woodbridge Strikers 0
FC London 0
Durham United FA 3
Durham United FA 1
North Toronto Nitros 3
North Mississauga SC 1
North Toronto Nitros 2
North Toronto Nitros 0
Woodbridge Strikers 1
ProStars FC 3
Woodbridge Strikers 4
Woodbridge Strikers 2
Kingston Clippers 0
Toronto FC Academy 1
Kingston Clippers 3

Round of 16

June 1 Sigma FC 1–1
(2–3 p)		 Master's Futbol Mississauga, Ontario
9:00 pm Zajac 63' (pen.) Report Page 34' Stadium: Hershey Centre, Field 1
June 1 Windsor Stars 1–2 Toronto Skillz FC Vaughan, Ontario
8:00 pm Milidrag 43' Report Su 48'
Fathazda 61'		 Stadium: Ontario Soccer Centre
May 18 Oakville Blue Devils 1–1
(4–5 p)		 Vaughan Azzurri Oakville, Ontario
8:00 pm James 28' Report
Report		 Whiteman 23' Stadium: Bronte Athletic Park
May 17 Aurora United FC 1–1
(4–1 p)		 Sanjaxx Lions Aurora, Ontario
9:00 pm Jacovou 90' Report
Report		 Daniel 72' Stadium: Sheppard's Bush
Penalties
Adjei soccer ball with check mark
Mahrady soccer ball with check mark
Powell soccer ball with check mark
Parolini soccer ball with check mark		 Daniel soccer ball with red X
Zullimullah soccer ball with red X
Serrao soccer ball with check mark
May 26 FC London 0–3 Durham United FA London, Ontario
8:00 pm Report Cullen 19'
De Jonge 58'
Paredes 71'		 Stadium: German Canadian FC Stadium
May 31 North Mississauga SC 1–2 North Toronto Nitros Mississauga, Ontario
8:00 pm Bryan 85' Report Sousa 44', 67' Stadium: Hershey Centre, Field 2
May 18 Woodbridge Strikers 4–3 ProStars FC Woodbridge, Ontario
9:00 pm Zwane 35'
Carreiro 51'
Portillo 63', 90'		 Report
Report		 Smith 40'
Hathaway 56'
Anderson 89'		 Stadium: Vaughan Grove
May 26 Kingston Clippers 3–1 Toronto FC Academy Kingston, Ontario
7:30 pm Koskins 12'
Pineo 24'
Vanbelleghem 34'		 Report Beckford 76' Stadium: Tindall Field, Queen's University

Quarterfinals

June 21 Master's Futbol 3–1 Toronto Skillz FC Toronto, Ontario
6:30 pm Grant (pen)
Rayne 		Report Wong Stadium: L'Amoreaux Park
June 22 Aurora United FC 2–3 Vaughan Azzurri Aurora, Ontario
9:00 pm Jacovou 28'
Adjei 39'		 Report Kovacevic 8', 12'
Di Chiara 68'		 Stadium: Sheppard's Bush
June 30 North Toronto Nitros 3–1 Durham United FA Toronto, Ontario
9:00 pm Elkinson
Laborde
El-Chanti 		Report
Report		 Parades (pen) Stadium: Downsview Turf 2
June 23 Kingston Clippers 0–2 Woodbridge Strikers Kingston, Ontario
8:00 pm Report Muccilli 23'
Isaac 48' (pen)		 Stadium: Tindall Field, Queen's University

Semifinals

July 13 Master's Futbol 0–3 Vaughan Azzurri Vaughan, Ontario
8:00 pm Report Whiteman 23'
Di Chiara 25'
Lao 62'		 Stadium: Ontario Soccer Centre
July 12 Woodbridge Strikers 1–0 North Toronto Nitros Woodbridge, Ontario
9:00 pm Isaac 90' (pen) Report Stadium: Vaughan Grove

Final

July 30 Vaughan Azzurri 1–0 Woodbridge Strikers Vaughan, Ontario
7:00 pm Miller 30' Report Stadium: Ontario Soccer Centre

Inter-Provincial Cup Championship

The Inter-Provincial Cup Championship was a two-legged home-and-away series between the league champions of League1 Ontario and the Première ligue de soccer du Québec – the only Division 3 men's semi-professional soccer leagues based fully within Canada.[21]

November 5, 2016 CS Mont-Royal Outremont 1–1 Vaughan Azzurri Terrebonne
8:00pm Rosa 24' Report Kovacevic 57' Stadium: Complexe Sportifs Terrebonne
November 12, 2016 Vaughan Azzurri 1–2 CS Mont-Royal Outremont Pickering, Ontario
8:00pm Lowe 14' Report Ritch-Andy 41'
Oliveri 67'		 Stadium: Pickering Soccer Complex

CS Mont-Royal Outremont won 3–2 on aggregate

Statistics

All-Star Game

On July 25, the league announced the rosters for the first-ever all-star game, to be played between the eastern and western conferences. Eighteen players for each team were selected by coaches and league officials, and each roster contains at least one player from each team in their respective conference.[22]

August 3, 2016 West All-Stars 4–2 East All-Stars Vaughan, Ontario
7:30 pm Allen 4', 44'
Brown 8'
Ribeiro 74'		 Report Cullen 40'
Martin 70'		 Stadium: Ontario Soccer Centre

Due to the unavailability of some players, the league released updated rosters for both western[23] and eastern[24] teams on August 2.

Awards

Award[25] Player (club)
Goal of the Year Hilliard Serrao (Sanjaxx Lions)
Most Valuable Player Elvir Gigolaj (FC London)
Golden Boot Elvir Gigolaj (FC London)
Coach of the Year Carmine Isacco (Vaughan Azzurri)
Young Player of the Year Kota Sakurai (Toronto FC Academy)
Defender of the Year Niba MacDonald (North Toronto Nitros)
Goalkeeper of the Year Matt George (Woodbridge Strikers)
First Team All-Stars[26]
Goalkeeper Defenders Midfielders Forwards
Matt George (Woodbridge Strikers) Cameron Brooks (Woodbridge Strikers)
Niba MacDonald (North Toronto Nitros)
Bruce Cullen (Durham United FA) 		Randy Ribeiro (FC London)
Kashiff De Jonge (Durham United FA)
Joey Melo (North Mississauga SC)
Joseph Di Chiara (Vaughan Azzurri) 		Leaford Allen (Sigma FC)
Elvir Gigolaj (FC London)
Jarek Whiteman (Vaughan Azzurri)
Second Team All-Stars[26]
Goalkeeper Defenders Midfielders Forwards
Anthony Sokalski (FC London)
Matt Zaikos (Sanjaxx Lions) 		Tyrell Rayne (Master's Futbol)
Jarred Phillips (Vaughan Azzurri)
Thanujan Jeyathilaka (Toronto Skills FC)
Jerome Smith (Sigma FC)
Rocco Romeo (Toronto FC Academy)
Kevin Dhillon (North Mississauga SC) 		Stephen Almeida (Woodbridge Strikers)
Brandon Mills (Vaughan Azzurri)
Khody Ellis (Oakville Blue Devils)
Mackenzie Roach (Kingston Clippers)
Justin Stoddart (Sigma FC)
Dylan Carreiro (Woodbridge Strikers)
Kota Sakurai (Toronto FC Academy)
Celso Carapau (Windsor Stars) 		Simon Adjei (Aurora United FC)
Kilian Elkinson (North Toronto Nitros)
Manny Slewa (ProStars FC)
Mario Kovacevic (Vaughan Azzurri)

References

  1. ^ "League1 Ontario Announces Eight New Teams For Upcoming Season". League1 Ontario. December 17, 2015. Archived from the original on December 21, 2015. Retrieved December 17, 2015.
  2. ^ "League1 Ontario Growing Again in 2016". League1 Ontario. February 1, 2016. Retrieved February 1, 2016.[permanent dead link‍]
  3. ^ "Toronto FC and Windsor Stars Announce Partnership". Toronto FC. June 16, 2016. Retrieved July 19, 2016.
  4. ^ Dalla Costa, Morris (January 27, 2016). "Everything new at FC London". The London Free Press. Retrieved April 21, 2016.
  5. ^ "Introducing NMSC Men's League 1 Coach – Rick Titus". North Mississauga SC. Archived from the original on April 2, 2016. Retrieved April 21, 2016.
  6. ^ "L1 Team". Oakville Blue Devils. Oakville Blue Devils. Archived from the original on April 10, 2016. Retrieved April 21, 2016.
  7. ^ "Coaches & Staff". ProStars FC. Pro Stars FC. Archived from the original on April 9, 2016. Retrieved April 21, 2016.
  8. ^ "Peter Mellon profile". Sanjaxx Soccer School. Retrieved April 21, 2016.
  9. ^ "Coaching Staff". Sigma FC. Retrieved April 21, 2016.
  10. ^ "TFC names Neely Academy Senior Team head coach". Toronto FC. January 6, 2016. Retrieved April 21, 2016.
  11. ^ "Shane Topalovic named head coach of Windsor Stars soccer club". Windsor Star. April 21, 2016.
  12. ^ "AUFC". Aurora United FC. Retrieved April 21, 2016.
  13. ^ "Durham United FC – League One Ontario". Oshawa Kicks. Archived from the original on April 25, 2016. Retrieved April 21, 2016.
  14. ^ "Staff". Kingston Clippers. Kingston Clippers SC. Archived from the original on April 28, 2016. Retrieved April 21, 2016.
  15. ^ "Master's Futbol". League1 Ontario. Retrieved April 21, 2016.
  16. ^ "Hermann Kingue profile". North Toronto SC. Archived from the original on April 28, 2016. Retrieved April 21, 2016.
  17. ^ "Toronto Skillz FC". League1 Ontario. Retrieved April 21, 2016.
  18. ^ "Vaughan Azzurri". League1 Ontario. Retrieved April 21, 2016.
  19. ^ "League1". Woodbridge Strikers. Retrieved April 21, 2016.
  20. ^ "Mens L1 Cup". League1 Ontario. Retrieved April 8, 2016.
  21. ^ "CS Mont-Royal Outremont Griffons Beat Vaughan Azzurri In 2016 Inter-Provincial Cup". League1 Ontario. November 12, 2016.
  22. ^ "League1 Ontario Announces Men's All-Star Game Roster". League1 Ontario. July 25, 2016.
  23. ^ Gallo, Anthony (August 2, 2016). "Men's 2016 West Division All-Stars Roster: A Closer Look". League1 Ontario. Retrieved August 9, 2016.
  24. ^ Gallo, Anthony (August 2, 2016). "Men's 2016 East Division All-Stars Roster: A Closer Look". League1 Ontario. Retrieved August 9, 2016.
  25. ^ "Standout Performers Recognized at 2016 League1 Ontario Awards Banquet". League1 Ontario. November 28, 2016. Retrieved December 14, 2016.
  26. ^ a b "League1 Ontario Announces 2016 Men's First And Second Team All-Stars". League1 Ontario. November 17, 2016. Retrieved December 14, 2016.