2021 League1 Ontario season

Football league season
League1 Ontario
Men's Division
Season2021
DatesJuly 29 – November 7, 2021
ChampionsGuelph United F.C.
Regular Season ChampionsVaughan Azzurri
Matches played90
Goals scored374 (4.16 per match)
Top goalscorerJace Kotsopoulos (15)
Best goalkeeperChristian Calabro (1.03 GAA)
← 2020
2022 →

The 2021 Men's League1 Ontario season was the seventh season of play (the 2020 season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic) for League1 Ontario, a Division 3 men's soccer league in the Canadian soccer pyramid and the highest level of soccer based in the Canadian province of Ontario.

Impact of COVID-19

After the 2020 League1 Ontario season was cancelled, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the league was optimistic that the 2021 season would be able to proceed. The league initially announced a projected start date of July 2, 2021, also announcing a 'drop-dead date' of June 7, 2021 that will confirm the start of the season on that date depending on restrictions in the province, otherwise the season would be cancelled.[1][2] In mid-June, the league start date was later revised to July 29, 2021, in accordance with the local re-opening plans.[3]

Format

The league was divided into two divisions with the East Division having seven teams and the West division having eight teams. Each team played 12 games against teams in their own divisions (East played each opponent home and away, while West played five of the teams twice, and the remaining two teams once). The top two teams from each division advanced to the playoff semi-finals, with the winner of the championship final in November qualifying for the 2022 Canadian Championship.[4]

Because the season began three months later than normal and with very short notice, some clubs have opted to delay their return to Premier Division competition until the 2022 season. As a large portion of the L1O player pool consisted of university and college student athletes, some sides would have limited squads after Labour Day. To combat these challenges, the league created a short-season ‘Summer Championship Series’ for 2021, which will conclude by Labour Day.[4]

In addition, the Reserve Division will return, following a similar format to the Premier Division, featuring 21 teams in three division playing 12 matches, with the top teams advancing to the playoffs and featuring Championship Finals weekend on November 6-7.[4]

Clubs

The men's division consists of 21 teams, an increase from 17 teams in 2020. 1812 FC Barrie, Guelph United F.C., Scrosoppi FC, St. Catharines Roma Wolves, and Waterloo United are new entries, while Aurora FC will not be returning. Hamilton United, who joined in 2020, will also be debuting after their inaugural season was cancelled due to the pandemic.[5] However, some teams opted out of the main division due to the delayed start, resulting in only 15 teams participating. Some of these clubs will still operate teams in the short-season Summer Championship or full length Reserve Division.

The following clubs are set to participate in the league.

Team City Principal stadium Main Division Summer Championship Reserve Division
1812 FC Barrie Barrie Terry Fox Stadium (Brampton) Participating Did not enter Withdrew
Alliance United FC Toronto Mount Joy Withdrew Participating Participating
Blue Devils FC Oakville Bronte Park Participating Participating Participating
Darby FC Whitby Whitby Soccer Centre Participating Did not enter Participating
Guelph United F.C. Guelph Alumni Stadium Participating Did not enter Participating
Hamilton United Hamilton Redeemer Sports Complex Withdrew Did not enter Participating
FC London London Hellenic Community Centre Participating Did not enter Participating
Master's Futbol Toronto L'Amoreaux Park Participating Did not enter Participating (2 teams)
North Mississauga SC Mississauga Paramount Fine Foods Centre Participating Did not enter Participating
North Toronto Nitros Toronto Downsview Turf 1 Participating Did not enter Withdrew
Pickering FC Pickering Kinsmen Park Withdrew Did not enter Withdrew
ProStars FC Brampton Victoria Park Stadium Participating Participating Participating
Scrosoppi FC Milton Bishop Reding Catholic Secondary School Participating Did not enter Withdrew
Sigma FC Mississauga Paramount Fine Foods Centre Participating Did not enter Participating
St. Catharines Roma Wolves St. Catharines Club Roma Stadium Withdrew Participating Participating
Toronto Skillz FC Toronto Birchmount Stadium Withdrew Participating Withdrew
Unionville Milliken SC Markham Bill Crothers Turf Participating Did not enter Participating (2 teams)
Vaughan Azzurri Vaughan North Maple Regional Park Participating Participating Participating
Waterloo United Waterloo RIM Park Withdrew Participating Withdrew
Windsor TFC Windsor Libro Centre Participating Did not enter Withdrew
Woodbridge Strikers Vaughan Vaughan Grove Participating Did not enter Participating

The following clubs, while not formally part of League1 Ontario are operating teams in the Summer Championship or Reserve Divisions:

Team City Principal stadium Main Division Summer Championship Reserve Division
Tecumseh SC Tecumseh University of Windsor Stadium — Participating Participating
Athlete Institute Orangeville The Hill Academy — — Participating
Toronto FC III (U19) Toronto BMO Training Ground — Participating —
Toronto FC IV (U17) Toronto BMO Training Ground — Participating —
Whitecaps London London North London Stadium — Participating —
FC Durham Academy Oshawa Vaso Field — — Participating
Richmond Hill SC Richmond Hill Richmond Green — — Participating
Rush Canada Academy Oakville Bronte Athletic Park — — Participating

Premier Division

East Division

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Vaughan Azzurri 12 11 1 0 41 11 +30 34 Advance to playoffs
2 Master's Futbol 12 6 3 3 28 22 +6 21
3 Woodbridge Strikers 12 6 1 5 27 23 +4 19
4 Unionville Milliken SC 12 5 2 5 19 22 −3 17
5 1812 FC Barrie 12 4 1 7 25 32 −7 13
6 Darby FC 12 3 3 6 19 26 −7 12
7 North Toronto Nitros 12 1 1 10 16 39 −23 4
Source: Standings

West Division

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Guelph United FC (O) 12 10 0 2 42 15 +27 30 Advance to playoffs
2 Blue Devils FC 12 9 2 1 29 13 +16 29
3 FC London 12 8 0 4 30 20 +10 24
4 Scrosoppi FC 12 6 1 5 34 22 +12 19
5 Sigma FC 12 4 3 5 24 32 −8 15
6 ProStars FC 12 4 2 6 22 31 −9 14
7 North Mississauga SC 12 1 2 9 10 32 −22 5
8 Windsor TFC 12 0 2 10 8 34 −26 2
Updated to match(es) played on compete. Source: Standings
(O) Play-off winners

Playoffs

Semifinals Championship Game
      
W1 Guelph United FC 2 (9)
E2 Master's Futbol 2 (8)
W1 Guelph United FC 3
W2 Blue Devils FC 1
E1 Vaughan Azzurri 1
W2 Blue Devils FC 2

Semifinals

Guelph United FC v Master's FA
October 30, 2021 Guelph United FC 2–2
(9–8 p)		 Master's FA Guelph, Ontario
5:00 PM Doros 25'
Kotsopoulos 70'		 Report Phillip 43', 45' Stadium: Alumni Stadium
Referee: Filip Dujic
Penalties
  • Agard soccer ball with check mark
  • Wishart soccer ball with check mark
  • Phillip soccer ball with check mark
  • Shahwan soccer ball with check mark
  • Dabire soccer ball with red X
  • Spencer soccer ball with check mark
  • Cortez soccer ball with check mark
  • Nikolic soccer ball with check mark
  • Wright soccer ball with red X
  • Meikle soccer ball with check mark
  • Koskinas soccer ball with red X
Vaughan Azzurri v Blue Devils FC
October 31, 2021 Vaughan Azzurri 1–2 Blue Devils FC Vaughan, Ontario
2:00 PM Carreiro 73' Report Allen 14', 26' Stadium: North Maple Regional Park
Referee: Hassane Rifai

Final

Guelph United FC v Blue Devils FC
November 7, 2021 Guelph United FC 3–1 Blue Devils FC Vaughan, Ontario
4:00 PM Kotsopoulous 19', 80' (pen.)
Skublak 26'		 Report Allen 90+4' Stadium: Ontario Soccer Centre
Referee: Scott Bowman

Statistics

Top goalscorers

Rank Player Club Goals
1 Jace Kotsopoulos Guelph United 15
2 Ethan Gopaul FC London 11
Reshon Phillip Master's FA
4 Tomasz Skublak Guelph United 10
5 Johnson Amoo 1812 FC Barrie 8
Kadiebue Kadiebue Woodbridge Strikers
Alexander Zis Guelph United
8 Leaford Allen Blue Devils FC 7
Jevonate Layne ProStars FC
Raheem Rose Vaughan Azzurri
Jason Squeo Sigma FC

Updated to matches played on October 28, 2021. Source: [1]

Top goalkeepers

Rank Player Club Minutes GAA
1 Christian Calabro Vaughan Azzurri 788 1.03
2 Lucas Birnstingle Blue Devils FC 810 1.22
3 Svyatik Artemenko Guelph United 1080 1.25
4 Spiridon Koskinas Master's FA 636 1.27
5 Alexander Pothemont Woodbridge Strikers 810 1.33

Updated to matches played on October 28, 2021. Minimum 450 minutes played. Source: [2]

Honours

The following awards and nominations were awarded for the 2021 season.[6]

Awards

East Division

Award Player Team
Most Valuable Player Canada Reshon Phillip Master's FA
Coach of the Year Canada Patrice Gheisar Vaughan Azzurri
Top Goalkeeper Guyana Quillan Roberts 1812 FC Barrie
Top Defender Canada Terrell Spencer Master's FA
Top Midfielder Canada Francis Ameyaw Master's FA

West Division

Award Player Team
Most Valuable Player Canada Jace Kotsopoulos Guelph United F.C.
Coach of the Year Canada Keith Mason & Justin Springer Guelph United F.C.
Top Goalkeeper Canada Svyatoslav Artemenko Guelph United F.C.
Top Defender Canada Amardo Oakley Guelph United F.C.
Top Midfielder Canada Alex Zis Guelph United F.C.

League All-Stars

East Division

Player Position
Guyana Quillan Roberts (1812 FC Barrie) Goalkeeper
Canada Terrell Spencer (Master's FA) Defender
Canada Reggie Laryea (Vaughan Azzurri) Defender
Canada Keegan Wilson (Woodbridge Strikers) Defender
Canada Jarred Phillips (Vaughan Azzurri) Defender
Canada Francis Ameyaw (Master's FA) Midfielder
Canada Raheem Rose (Vaughan Azzurri) Midfielder
Canada Dante Pavan (Woodbridge Strikers) Midfielder
Canada Ali El-Zeir (1812 FC Barrie) Forward
Canada Reshon Phillip (Master's FA) Forward
Guyana Shaquille Agard (Master's FA) Forward

West Division

Player Position
Canada Svyatoslav Artemenko (Guelph United FC) Goalkeeper
Canada Amardo Oakley (Guelph United FC) Defender
Canada Adam Czerkawski (Blue Devils FC) Defender
Canada Bradley Heath (FC London) Defender
Canada Kyle Walton (Sigma FC) Defender
Canada Brandon Duarte (Blue Devils FC) Midfielder
Canada Alex Zis (Guelph United FC) Midfielder
Canada Dion Stergiotis (Guelph United FC) Midfielder
Canada Jace Kotsopoulos (Guelph United FC) Forward
Canada Tomasz Skublak (Guelph United FC) Forward
Canada Ethan Gopaul (FC London) Forward

Summer Championship Division

Due to the delayed start to the season, some teams were unable to commit to the full season for the Premier Division. For 2021, a short season "Summer Championship" (also called the 'University' Division) was created which will conclude by Labour Day and will include some of the teams that could not participate in the full season.

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 Toronto FC III (U19) 7 4 2 1 13 7 +6 14
2 Toronto FC IV (U17) 6 4 1 1 15 9 +6 13
3 Alliance United FC 7 3 2 2 13 8 +5 11
4 ProStars FC B 7 3 2 2 19 15 +4 11
5 Waterloo United 7 2 5 0 9 5 +4 11
6 St. Catharines Roma Wolves 7 3 1 3 15 10 +5 10
7 Tecumseh SC 7 2 4 1 10 11 −1 10
8 Vaughan Azzurri B 7 2 1 4 9 11 −2 7
9 Whitecaps London 7 2 1 4 8 16 −8 7
10 Toronto Skillz FC 7 1 2 4 8 16 −8 5
11 Blue Devils FC B 7 1 1 5 6 17 −11 4
Source: Standings

Reserve Division

East Division

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Woodbridge Strikers B 12 9 3 0 25 5 +20 30 Advance to playoffs
2 Vaughan Azzurri C (O) 12 9 2 1 45 12 +33 29
3 Unionville Milliken SC B 12 6 1 5 39 22 +17 19
4 Richmond Hill SC 12 3 4 5 17 19 −2 13
5 FC Durham 12 3 3 6 13 39 −26 12
6 Master's Futbol B 12 2 3 7 15 32 −17 9
7 Alliance United FC B 12 0 4 8 9 34 −25 4
Source: Standings
(O) Play-off winners

Central Division

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Athlete Institute 12 9 3 0 42 12 +30 30 Advance to playoffs
2 Sigma FC B 12 9 0 3 38 17 +21 27
3 Unionville Milliken SC C 12 5 2 5 26 31 −5 17
4 Darby FC B 12 4 2 6 21 29 −8 14
5 Master's Futbol C 12 4 2 6 21 33 −12 14
6 Blue Devils FC C 12 2 3 7 18 31 −13 9
7 North Mississauga SC B 12 2 2 8 17 30 −13 8
Source: Standings

West Division

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 FC London B 12 8 2 2 25 15 +10 26 Advance to playoffs
2 Guelph United FC B 12 7 4 1 32 8 +24 25
3 Hamilton United 12 6 2 4 13 13 0 20
4 Rush Canada Academy 12 5 2 5 22 20 +2 17
5 St. Catharines Roma Wolves B 12 3 5 4 15 16 −1 14
6 ProStars FC C 12 2 2 8 14 31 −17 8
7 Tecumseh SC B 12 1 3 8 14 32 −18 6
Source: Standings

Playoffs

Semifinals Championship Game
      
E1 Woodbridge Strikers B 0
W1 FC London B 2
W1 FC London B 0
WC Vaughan Azzurri C 3
C1 Athlete Institute 1
WC Vaughan Azzurri C 4

Semi-finals

Woodbridge Strikers B v FC London B
November 6, 2021 Woodbridge Strikers B 0–2 FC London B Vaughan, Ontario
7:00 PM Report Rycobel 12'
Barrowcliffe 53'		 Stadium: Vaughan Grove Sports Park
Athlete Institute v Vaughan Azzurri C
November 7, 2021 Athlete Institute 1–4 Vaughan Azzurri C Caledon, Ontario
7:00 PM 9' Report Spittle 14', 49'
Sciortino 18'
Martin 71'		 Stadium: The Hill Academy

Final

FC London B v Vaughan Azzurri C
November 14, 2021 FC London B 0–3 Vaughan Azzurri C Vaughan, Ontario
4:00 PM Report Martin 44', 80'
Spittle 68'		 Stadium: Ontario Soccer Centre
Referee: Melvin Christopher

References

  1. ^ "League1 Ontario shifts potential 2021 start date to July 2nd". League1 Ontario. May 7, 2021.
  2. ^ Jacques, John (May 7, 2021). "League1 Ontario Reveals 2021 Season Start Date". Northern Tribune.
  3. ^ "League1 Ontario sets new 2021 start date for July 29th". League1 Ontario. June 15, 2021.
  4. ^ a b c "League1 Ontario Set To Kick Off Seventh Season With Late July Fixtures". League1 Ontario. July 22, 2021.
  5. ^ "League1 Ontario adds four men's teams for 2021". League1 Ontario. January 28, 2021.
  6. ^ Thompson, Marty (December 22, 2021). "2021 L1O Men's Premier Division Awards: Guelph sweeps West; Phillip & Kotsopoulos take MVP". League1 Ontario.

External links

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