2021 League1 Ontario season (women)

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

League1 Ontario
Women's Division
Season2021
DatesJuly 2, 2021 - November 7, 2021
ChampionsWoodbridge Strikers
Regular Season ChampionsFC London
Matches played42
Goals scored180 (4.29 per match)
Top goalscorerJade Kovacevic (16)
2020
2022

The league 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]

Format

edit

The league will be played in a single table of 7 teams, playing a total of 12 matches, with the top four clubs advancing to the playoffs.[3]

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.[3]

In addition, the Reserve Division will begin for the first time (after the inaugural women's reserve division was cancelled along with the rest of the league in 2020, following a similar format to the Premier Division, featuring 10 teams playing 12 matches, with the top teams advancing to the playoffs and featuring Championship Finals weekend on November 6-7.[3]

Clubs

edit

The women's division consists of 15 teams, an increase from 13 teams in 2020. Guelph Union, Tecumseh SC, and Waterloo United are new addition, while Aurora FC did not return.[4] North Toronto Nitros will also be making their official debut, after their inaugural season was cancelled due to the pandemic.

The following clubs are set to participate in the league:

Team City Principal stadium Main Division Summer Championship Division Reserve Division
Alliance United FC Markham Mount Joy & Centennial College Withdrew Did not enter Participating
Blue Devils FC Oakville Sheridan Trafalgar Stadium Participating Participating (Two teams) Withdrew
Darby FC Whitby Whitby Soccer Centre & Darlington Field Withdrew Participating Withdrew
Hamilton United Hamilton Ron Joyce Stadium & Tim Hortons Field Participating Did not enter Withdrew
FC London London German Canadian Club Participating Did not enter Participating
FC Oshawa Oshawa Civic Stadium Withdrew Did not enter Withdrew
Guelph Union Guelph Alumni Stadium Withdrew Participating Withdrew
North Mississauga SC Mississauga Paramount Fine Foods Centre Withdrew Did not enter Participating
North Toronto Nitros Toronto Downsview Turf Participating Did not enter Withdrew
Pickering FC Pickering Kinsmen Park Withdrew Did not enter Participating
Tecumseh SC Tecumseh University of Windsor Stadium Participating Did not enter Participating
Unionville Milliken SC Markham Azzurri Village & Mount Joy Withdrew Participating Participating
Vaughan Azzurri Vaughan North Maple Regional Park Participating Participating Participating
Waterloo United Waterloo Warrior Field, University of Waterloo Withdrew Participating Withdrew
Woodbridge Strikers Vaughan Vaughan Grove Participating Did not enter Participating

The following clubs, while not formally part of the League1 Ontario women's division are operating teams in the Reserve Division (both clubs operate teams in the men's division):

Team City Principal stadium Main Division Summer Championship Division Reserve Division
Master's Futbol Toronto L'Amoreaux Park N/A N/A Participating
ProStars FC Brampton Victoria Park Stadium N/A N/A Participating

Main Division

edit
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 FC London 12 9 2 1 26 8 18 29 Advance to playoffs
2 Woodbridge Strikers (O) 12 6 3 3 28 11 17 21
3 Vaughan Azzurri 12 6 2 4 19 16 3 20
4 Blue Devils FC 12 6 1 5 16 18 −2 19
5 Hamilton United 12 4 1 7 21 27 −6 13
6 North Toronto Nitros 12 4 0 8 12 24 −12 12
7 Tecumseh SC 12 2 1 9 8 26 −18 7
Source: Standings
(O) Play-off winners

Playoffs

edit
Semifinals Championship Game
      
1 FC London 1
4 Blue Devils FC 2
4 Blue Devils FC 0
2 Woodbridge Strikers 1
2 Woodbridge Strikers 1(4)
3 Vaughan Azzurri 1(3)

Semi-finals

October 31, 2021 FC London 1–2 Blue Devils FC London, Ontario
2:00 PM Lewis   27' Report Kozak   39'
Twidle   71'
Stadium: Tricar Field
October 31, 2021 Woodbridge Strikers 1–1
(4–3 p)
Vaughan Azzurri Vaughan, Ontario
2:00 PM Oduro   88' Report Desa   37' Stadium: Vaughan Grove Park

Final

November 7, 2021 Woodbridge Strikers 1–0 Blue Devils FC Vaughan, Ontario
7:00 PM Dolan   7' Report Stadium: Ontario Soccer Centre
Referee: Amanda Kwan

Statistics

edit

Honours

edit

The following awards and nominations were awarded for the 2021 season.[5]

Awards

edit
Award Player Team
Most Valuable Player   Laura Twidle Blue Devils FC
Golden Boot   Jade Kovacevic FC London
Coach of the Year   Dave Porco Woodbridge Strikers
Top Goalkeeper   Vanessa Fiore Woodbridge Strikers
Top Defender   Meghan Scott FC London
Top Midfielder   Julia Benati FC London

League All-Stars

edit

Summer Championship Division

edit

The league is operating a short-season division called the Summer Championship in 2021.

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 Guelph Union 6 6 0 0 17 1 16 18
2 Vaughan Azzurri B 6 3 1 2 10 9 1 10
3 Blue Devils FC B 6 3 0 3 13 11 2 9
4 Waterloo United 6 2 1 3 10 9 1 7
5 Unionville Milliken SC 6 2 1 3 13 13 0 7
6 Blue Devils FC C 6 1 2 3 10 23 −13 5
7 Darby FC 6 1 1 4 7 14 −7 4
Source: Standings

Reserve Division

edit

The league is set to operate a Reserve division this season as well.

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Woodbridge Strikers B 12 10 1 1 60 7 53 31 Advance to playoffs
2 Unionville Milliken SC B 12 9 0 3 30 15 15 27
3 Alliance United FC 12 8 3 1 29 14 15 27
4 Vaughan Azzurri C (O) 12 7 3 2 29 14 15 24
5 Tecumseh SC B 12 7 2 3 36 32 4 23
6 ProStars FC 12 4 1 7 16 22 −6 13
7 FC London B 12 4 1 7 14 22 −8 13
8 Pickering FC 12 3 1 8 15 36 −21 10
9 Master's Futbol 12 1 1 10 9 45 −36 4
10 North Mississauga SC 12 0 1 11 10 41 −31 1
Source: Standings
(O) Play-off winners

Playoffs

edit
Semifinals Championship Game
      
1 Woodbridge Strikers B 0
4 Vaughan Azzurri C 2
4 Vaughan Azzurri C 1(6)
2 Unionville Milliken SC B 1(5)
2 Unionville Milliken SC B 1
3 Alliance United 0

Semi-finals

November 5, 2021 Woodbridge Strikers B 0–2 Vaughan Azzurri C Vaughan, Ontario
9:00 PM Report Fleming-Thompson   7'
Paraskevopoulos   44'
Stadium: Vaughan Grove Sports Park
November 5, 2021 Unionville Milliken B 1–0 Alliance United Unionville, Ontario
9:00 PM Sinda   26' Report Stadium: Bill Crothers Secondary School

Final

November 14, 2021 Unionville Milliken B 1–1
(5–6 p)
Vaughan Azzurri C Vaughan, Ontario
1:00 PM Allen   11' Report Famele   30' Stadium: Ontario Soccer Centre
Referee: Vasyl Dzikh
Penalties
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  

References

edit
  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. ^ a b c "League1 Ontario Set To Kick Off Seventh Season With Late July Fixtures". League1 Ontario. July 22, 2021.
  4. ^ "League1 Ontario adds three women's teams for 2021". League1 Ontario. February 3, 2021.
  5. ^ Thompson, Marty (December 21, 2021). "2021 L1O Women's Premier Division Awards: Twidle Earns MVP, FC London Dominate Again". League1 Ontario.
edit