2021_Women's_League1_Ontario_season
2021 League1 Ontario season (women)
Football league season
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.
| Season | 2021 |
|---|---|
| Dates | July 2, 2021 - November 7, 2021 |
| Champions | Woodbridge Strikers |
| Regular Season Champions | FC London |
| Matches played | 42 |
| Goals scored | 180 (4.29 per match) |
| Top goalscorer | Jade Kovacevic (16) |
← 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]
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]
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 |
| 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 |
Playoffs
| 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
Top goalscorers
|
Top goalkeepers
|
Honours
The following awards and nominations were awarded for the 2021 season.[5]
Awards
| 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
|
First Team
|
Second Team
|
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 |
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 |
Playoffs
| 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 | ||||
- Jacques, John (May 7, 2021). "League1 Ontario Reveals 2021 Season Start Date". Northern Tribune.
- "League1 Ontario adds three women's teams for 2021". League1 Ontario. February 3, 2021.
- Thompson, Marty (December 21, 2021). "2021 L1O Women's Premier Division Awards: Twidle Earns MVP, FC London Dominate Again". League1 Ontario.