Hawks forward Aleks Janjic during OCAA final vs Seneca. COURTESY HUMBER ATHLETICS
By Adriano Mancini
The Humber men’s soccer team has qualified for Saturday’s CCAA championship match versus the Victoria Island University Mariners as a result of its 3-0 win versus the Seneca Sting.
The Hawks, who rank fifth in Canada, reached the finals of the national tournament after winning their two group stage matches against Collège François-Xavier-Garneau and the Seneca Sting.
The Hawks outscored their opponents 5-0 on route to Saturday’s championship match.
“We have the mentality to do whatever it takes to become champions of the country,” Humber midfielder Jose Caro told Humber News. “The fact that all the guys on the team all feel this way is what makes us a team”
Humber head coach Germain Sanchez, who coached the Humber Hawks to a CCAA victory back in the 2000/2001 season, said the squad benefited from having a host of talented players.
“This is the first time we have had so many rookies on the field,” Sanchez told Humber News. “I would say that the secret to our success is the unselfish play of our best players.”
The VIU Mariners were equally as impressive in the group stage winning both of their matches against the Holland College Hurricanes and the Douglas College Royals, outscoring their opponents 5-1.
The Hawks have not won gold at the CCAA national tournament since the 2000/2001 season.
Hawks star midfielder Roberto Galle is confident his side will end the 11-year drought and win the national title in what will be the final opportunity for some of the veteran players.
“I’m pretty confident in Humber winning nationals,” Galle told Humber News. “For a lot of us this (winning nationals) is going to be our last chance.”
Sanchez said the game would not be determined based on skill alone.
“We will have to see how big our heart is.”
For more information on the CCAA tournament visit http://www.ccaa.ca/menssoccer2012/