Hawks veterans expected to lead the line versus Sheridan. PHOTO BY: ADRIANO MANCINI
By: Adriano Mancini
The Humber Hawks men’s soccer team has reached the semi-finals in the OCAA men’s soccer tournament and will face their long-time rivals, the Sheridan Bruins Friday Afternoon.
It will be the second meeting between the two teams this season following the Hawks defeat on home soil to Sheridan on Oct.3.
Sheridan won the match 1-0 after an early goal from striker Marlon Sequeria turned out to be too much for the Hawks.
Humber head coach Germain Sanchez remains confident of victory despite being on the losing end in the first meeting.
“The guys are ready and very anxious to play them again,” Sanchez told Humber News. “In the last two weeks we have been playing our best soccer and our team will be a different team to the one that played Sheridan.”
With elimination a possibility for the Hawks, the pressure is on the younger players to perform on the big stage.
“For those of us who have been here before it will be easier to adjust to the game,” said Humber midfielder Jose Caro. “For the new players it will be a new experience and it will be up to our more experienced guys to guide the others.”
The Hawks have won OCAA gold in back-to-back seasons and according to Sanchez, not winning a third straight title would be deemed a failure.
“Every year that we don’t win . . . it is a failure and this year we are in the same boat, we have to go to nationals and if we don’t we will be a little upset,” said Sanchez.
The Hawks will play the Sheridan Bruins Friday at 1 p.m. at Hamilton’s Redeemer College.
If they win they will take on either the St.Clair Saints or the Seneca Sting in the final.
For live updates visit www.sportslive.ca
Listen to the full interview with Humber head coach, Germain Sanchez.