21 June 2024

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weekend preview

There are new leaders in the Men’s Premier Division, as the battle for titles and survival across League1 Ontario turns up another level.


Kicking off the weekend

Women’s Premier leaders NDC Ontario return to Friday-night action as they host a Vaughan Azzurri side that has dropped to fifth in the standings after winning once in their last five matches.

There’s another bill of Men’s Championship action for Friday with four games to enjoy, including Darby versus FC London. Six points separate these teams, who are third and first in the standings respectively, so the result could have a huge impact on where the trophy goes at the end of the season.

Also in the hunt are TFC Academy and they visit North Mississauga who are just two points above the relegation places. Down that end of the table are St Catharines Roma Wolves and Master’s FA, both on five points, and they face Pickering and BVB IA Waterloo respectively.

Pickering and Darby also meet in the Women’s Championship, two teams five points apart in the standings.

Winning Woodbridge

Alliance United host in-form Woodbridge Strikers in the Women’s Premier on Saturday. The Strikers have won three on the bounce and are tough opposition for the reigning divisional champions, who are looking to steer away from the relegation playoff spot.

Seventh-placed North Mississauga will leapfrog fourth-placed FC London if they defeat their visitors this weekend, while victory for London will see them maintain their place in the table.

After failing to win in their first four games this season, positive results are flowing for Simcoe County Rovers who have picked up points from three of their last four matches – including victory against Guelph United on Wednesday. They might need a little bit of fortune on Saturday against North Toronto – second in the standings, unbeaten since May, and having also won on Wednesday against FC London.

Second in the Men’s Premier are former long-term leaders Burlington – pipped to the top of the table this week by Woodbridge Strikers who tied with Simcoe County Rovers on Wednesday.

Woodbridge are League1 Ontario’s nearly men, finishing divisional runners-up four times in nine completed seasons. Moving to the summit will certainly give them confidence ahead of their trip to Alliance United, who are just three points behind the league leaders, while title rivals Burlington host bottom side Hamilton United.

After four points from their last two games, Simcoe have drawn level on points with North Toronto and they face off on Saturday at J. C. Massie Field.

Live on YouTube

The sole Saturday Men’s Championship game is live on League1 Ontario YouTube this week, and it’s Unionville Milliken up against Windsor City with three points separating these teams and plenty to play for whether you are looking up or down the standings.

Burlington versus Tecumseh United is the women’s livestream in the Championship; two teams with a lot to fight for as they are both at threat of relegation.

Division leaders Scrosoppi host Hamilton United in a crucial game at the top of the standings, and Rush Canada host BVB IA Waterloo – two teams at opposite ends of the table.

Rush Canada’s men host Hamilton United B in Men’s League2 and could move into a potential playoff wildcard position in the Southeast Conference, and the The Borough FC play Burlington B in a mid-table Central Conference battle. Master’s FA host FC London B in the Women’s League2 crossovers.

On Sunday, Sudbury Cyclones will be looking to assert their place at the top of the Northwest against Vaughan Azzurri B on Sunday, and fellow high-flyers St Catharines Roma Wolves face North Toronto B in Women’s League2.

ProStars also host Unionville Milliken in the Women’s Championship on Sunday. Unionville are second after nine games and could go top if Scrosoppi’s result goes their way, so they’ll be aiming for another three points like the 3-0 win they achieved against ProStars on the final day of the 2023 season.

Mind the gap

Sunday’s Women’s Premier game sees Guelph United host Blue Devils. This was a five-goal thriller last year with Blue Devils coming out on top 3-2, and points are all the more important in this year’s battle with both teams around the relegation places.

If that’s not enough action for you, there are three Men’s Premier games scheduled for Sunday afternoon including Guelph United versus ProStars – two teams on six points after eight games and both could be sucked into a relegation dogfight. To make things even more interesting, these two met on Thursday at Mattamy Sports Park with ProStars picking up their first win of the season.

Sigma, occupying the relegation playoff spot, host mid-table Blue Devils, and Scrosoppi welcome Vaughan Azzurri in a heavyweight battle with both teams in the race for the Premier Division crown. Scrosoppi and Woodbridge are still unbeaten in the division this year.

Published On: 21 June 2024

League1 Ontario staff