SAINTS WIN OCAA WOMEN'S SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIP

WINDSOR, Ont. - For the first time since 1988, the St. Clair Saints have won the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) Women's Soccer Championship.

St. Clair defeated the Centennial Colts 4-1 on home turf to end a 36-year drought. League Second-Team All-Star Natalie Kersey (Belle River) scored two goals in the victory.

Also scoring were West Division Player of the Year Victoria Walsh (Georgetown) and third-year midfielder Alessia Olivito (Windsor). The Saints led the majority of the match, with Kersey scoring the opening goal in the third minute. St. Clair took a 2-0 lead into half time, which held until the late minutes, when three goals were scored, including an own goal charged to the Saints.

Olivito was named Championship MVP, while Kersey and Walsh were named Championship All-Stars.

Although their season ended in defeat, the silver medalist Colts can find solace in the fact that they achieved their best finish to an OCAA season since 2000. Centennial's Mylie Decoff (Burlington) and Vanessa Lima (Toronto) were named Championship All-Stars for their efforts.

The Saints will now advance to the 2025 Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association Women's Soccer National Championship taking place in Red Deer, Alta., next month.

The bronze medal game was a rematch of the last three OCAA gold medal finales. In an outcome fitting of these long-time rivals, the Seneca Sting prevailed 2-1 over the Humber Hawks. East Division First-Team All-Star Kayla Uddenberg (Richmond Hill) scored the game-winning goal for Seneca at the end of the first overtime period on a penalty kick.

It was scoreless for much of the game until fifth-year midfielder Priscilla Voulgaris (Toronto) put Seneca on the board in the 71st minute. The lead was short-lived, however, with Humber League Second-Team All-Star Kaylese Callender (Vaughan) scoring five minutes later.

Uddenberg and Callender were named Championship All-Stars.

The win ended Humber's run of medals at eight straight OCAA championships. Seneca has earned medals in each of the past four seasons, winning gold the last two.

OCAA WOMEN'S SOCCER AWARDS

OCAA Women's Soccer Championship MVP
Alessia Olivito, St. Clair

OCAA Women's Soccer Championship All-Stars
Kaylese Callender, Humber
Mylie Decoff, Centennial
Natalie Kersey, St. Clair
Vanessa Lima, Centennial
Kayla Uddenburg, Seneca
Victoria Walsh, St. Clair

OCAA Women's Soccer Fair Play Award
Brianna Kinsley-Clough, St. Clair

Webcast: www.ocaa.com/live

Saturday, October 25
Semi-Finals
Semi-Final #1: St. Clair def. Humber 2-1 (OT)
Semi-Final #2: Centennial def. Seneca 1-0

Sunday, October 26
Bronze Medal Match
Seneca def. Humber 2-1 (OT)

Gold Medal Match
St. Clair def. Centennial 4-1

- OCAA -

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For nearly 60 years, the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association has been a dedicated leader in amateur athletics through the provision of quality varsity and recreational athletic opportunities at the collegiate level.

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Josh Bell-Webster
Marketing and Communications
Ontario Colleges Athletic Association
Tel: 416-426-7041
E-mail: bell-webster@ocaa.com