Centre Dufferin claims D4 senior boys’ soccer honours
ERIN – A goal late in the second half of the District 4 high school senior boys’ championship match at Erin Public School Thursday gave the Centre Dufferin Royals their second consecutive league title.
The Royals slipped by the host Erin Raiders 1-0 in the final on a cool and windy day, although the wind blew more across the field than from one end to the other.
Corey Sterling won a battle with an Erin defender and a charging goaltender to chip a shot into the net as he was tumbling to the crowd. With the goal coming with about five minutes to play, Sterling was mobbed by his teammates as he got back to his feet.
Jaipol Deol had the clean sheet in net for Centre Dufferin. He had to make a few key saves, especially one midway through the second half that he tipped over the crossbar.
The title win was the fourth since 2003 for the Royals as they had also won in 2003 and 2010.
Erin was looking for its second overall title having taken top honours for the first time in 2015.
The Royals and Raiders had finished the regular season tied atop the standings with identical 5-2-1 records. Erin defeated Centre Dufferin 3-0 at home Oct. 2 and the Royals edged the Raiders 2-1 in Shelburne Oct. 23. The win by a three-goal margin broke the tie between the two.
In Monday’s semifinals, Centre Dufferin doubled the Norwell Varsity Reds 4-2 and Erin downed the Westside Thunder 3-1.
The game was for D4 bragging rights as both teams have a long wait before participating in CWOSSA championship tournaments near the end of May.
Centre Dufferin advances to the CWOSSA AA tournament in Brantford May 28 and 30. The District 10 champion Bishop Macdonell Celtics have also qualified for that tournament.
Erin advances to the CWOSSA A tournament the same days. Location for that tournament has not been decided.
- Guelph Sports Journal