As the playoffs draw nearer, the Centennial Women's Soccer team faces a tough challenge this Wednesday at 6:00 p.m. when they host their rivals, the Durham Lords, at the Colts Pitch.

The last time these two teams met was at the OCAA Indoor Soccer Championships, where the Colts secured a thrilling 2-1 victory thanks to a last-minute goal by Vanessa Lima, sending them to the finals.

Currently, the Colts are locked in a three-way tie for first place as they aim to break away from Seneca and Algonquin with a crucial win over the Lords. Known for being a slow-starting team, the Colts exploded with 4 second-half goals in their last game against the Cambrian Golden Shield. Meanwhile, the Lords have had an up-and-down season and are coming off a 3-0 loss to the Algonquin Wolves. These next two matches against Durham and Algonquin will be pivotal in determining playoff seeding.

Second-year forward Vanessa Lima shared her thoughts on behalf of the team: "Playoffs are coming, and this game will help us prepare for the next phase." She added that the team has been working well together and is eager to showcase their efforts in the upcoming rounds.

The Scarborough-Oshawa rivalry has been one to watch over the past few seasons, with both teams establishing a strong presence in the OCAA soccer scene. Under the leadership of head coach Rich Hirst, the Colts have consistently performed at a high level, cementing their place as one of the top teams in the province. On the other side, the Lords, who claimed bronze last season, are motivated to push even further this year.

Come out to Progress Campus to cheer on the Colts as the race for the top spot heats up! If you can't make it, be sure to catch the action live on COLTSNET via YouTube. We look forward to an exciting match as both teams bring their best in this thrilling OCAA 2024 soccer season.

By: Pedro Casellatto

Photo C/O: Reese Kaleekkal