Sanjaxx Lions

Sanjaxx Lions
Full nameSanjaxx School of Soccer
Founded2012
StadiumMonarch Park Stadium[1]
Head CoachPatrick Laza Lowe
LeagueLeague1 Ontario
2018League1 Ontario, 11th
Cup: Round of 16
Websitehttps://web.archive.org/web/20190306053335/http://www.sanjaxxsoccer.com/

Sanjaxx Lions was a Canadian semi-professional soccer club based in Toronto, Ontario. The club was founded in 2012 as a soccer academy and added its semi-professional club in League1 Ontario in 2015.

The club was one of the ten original founding men's teams in League1 Ontario, which was established in 2014, as well as one of eight original founding women’s teams in the women's division, which was established in 2015. Both the men's and women's teams withdrew from the league following the 2017 and 2018 seasons, respectively.

History

In 2012, Sanjaxx was launched as a soccer academy by founder Patrick 'Laza' Lowe,[2] housed by the Leaside Toronto-East Soccer Club.[3]

In 2015, they added a team in the semi-professional League1 Ontario.[4] They played their debut match on May 3, 2015 against the Oakville Blue Devils, losing 5-0.[5] They played home matches at both Esther Shiner Stadium and Monarch Park Stadium in 2015, before moving to the latter full-time beginning in 2016.[6]

They added a women's club in the women's division to participate in the inaugural 2015 women's season.[7] The women's team played for three seasons, departing the league following the 2017 season.[8] The men's team departed a year later.[9]

Seasons

Men

Season League Teams Record Rank Playoffs League Cup Ref
2015 League1 Ontario 12 3–0–19 11th – Group stage [10]
2016 16 5–1–15 7th, Western (12th) Did not qualify Round of 16 [10]
2017 16 4–3–15 7th, Western (13th) Did not qualify Round of 16 [10]
2018 17 5–3–8 11th Did not qualify Round of 16 [10]

Women

Season League Teams Record Rank Playoffs League Cup Ref
2015 League1 Ontario 7 3–2–13 6th – Group Stage [11]
2016 9 1–0–15 9th – Quarter-finals [11]
2017 11 2–2–16 10th – Quarter-finals [11]

Notable former players

The following players have either played at the professional or international level, either before or after playing for the League1 Ontario team:

References

  1. ^ "Monarch Park Stadium". Football Ground Map.
  2. ^ "Our Program". Sanjaxx Soccer. Archived from the original on February 7, 2019.
  3. ^ Durack, Sean (April 5, 2013). "Scarborough coach Patrick (Laza) Lowe helps collect equipment for players in need". Scarborough Mirror.
  4. ^ "Sanjaxx Lions - 2015 Season Preview". League1 Ontario. April 28, 2015.
  5. ^ "Oakville Blue Devils 5 - Sanjaxx Lions 0". League1 Ontario. May 4, 2015.
  6. ^ Glover, Robin (June 2, 2016). "May 28, 2016 League 1 Ontario–Sanjaxx Lions vs Pro Stars FC". Northern Starting XI.
  7. ^ Rollins, Duane (January 28, 2015). "A League of their Own: League1 launches women's side for 2015". Canadian Soccer News.
  8. ^ "2018 League1 Ontario Season To Feature New Format, Divisional Configuration And Several Exciting New Additions". League1 Ontario. March 14, 2018.
  9. ^ "Three New Teams Join League1 Ontario Women's Division for 2019 Season". League1 Ontario. January 31, 2019.
  10. ^ a b c d "League1 Ontario Historical Standings Men's Division". Canadian Soccer History Archives.
  11. ^ a b c "League1 Ontario Historical Standings Women's Division". Canadian Soccer History Archives.