For the fifth consecutive season it will be a St. John Henry Newman Cardinals versus Bishop Ryan Celtics matchup for the championship of senior boys' high school soccer.
First-place Newman punched its ticket with a 3-0 semifinal victory over the Cathedral Gaels, while Bishop Ryan advanced again by edging the second-place St. Thomas More Knights, 2-1.
The Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic league final is scheduled for May 21.
Since both BR and Newman won medals at the OFSAA championships in 2025, they each will qualify for the Golden Horseshoe Athletic Conference AAA semifinals on May 26.
Stefan Trkulja, Nico Angelini and Jaxson Iaquinto scored for the Cardinals against the visiting Gaels.
"We did a good job of suppressing their pressure," Newman coach Gerry Moretuzzo said. "The key to our game is defending.
"We played Cathedral earlier in the year (a 3-2 Newman win) and I'm not surprised they made the semifinals."
While Newman's history in the sport includes numerous post-season playoff runs, Cathedral hasn't experienced that degree of success.
"Word on the street is we last made the semifinals in 2008," Gaels coach Francesco D'Ambrosio said. "So it's been many years."
Cathedral ended up in fifth place this season with a record of 3-4 and went on to win a quarter-final, 3-0, over the Bishop Tonnos Titans.
"We played quality soccer and kept all of our games close," the Gaels coach said. "So it's been a huge improvement.
"When I started at Cathedral we were celebrating when our shots hit posts and crossbars.
D'Ambrosio said centre-midfielder Oscar Mejia was the team's "engine" on the pitch. "Some of the best on-the-ball footwork we've had in a long time comes from him."
Striker Anderson McEachnie was the Gaels top goal scorer and captain Farel Ngoida is headed to McMaster University on a soccer scholarship.
"We had a lot more offensive pressure this year," D'Ambrosio said. "And it was done by a group -- all 11 on the field were utilized."
Despite a turnover of 12 players from last season, Moretuzzo is hopeful of making another trip to the provincial tournament.
"The four or five kids who have been with us on our OFSAA run (two silver medals and an antique bronze since 2023) have invigorated our young guys," Moretuzzo said. "We're confident in how we play."
Newman will take part in the league final for a sixth-straight time.
Other recent quarter-final results were: Newman 9 ACMT 0, More 2 St. Mary 1, Bishop Ryan 1 St. Jean de Brébeuf 0.
Photos by Richard Andoga
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