MR2
Saving the Best for Last!
By: Jahleel Baay, Team Manager
Game played: September 2nd, 2024
Well, there’s a saying – when it rains, it pours. That’s exactly what happened in our last game of the season.
With the help of two Wolves OT1 call ups, Eamon Kavanagh and Juan Guerrero. We seemed to channel our inner Real Madrid. With amazing goals from Moses Bahura, Anand Balaram, Markel Gonzalez, and Matt Fyfe, we combined to score 8 unanswered goals after going down by 1 early.
A special shout-out to all our fans for their support! 
What an amazing way to end the season! Go Wolves!
WOLVES 8
INTERNATIONALS 1
MR3
Our Wolves MR3 Leapfrogs to a Championship!
By: Roozbeh Manesh, Team Manager
Game played: September 4th, 2024
In their final game, our Westboro Wolves’ MR3 team faced the Gloucester Hornets in a rescheduled match from Week 8.
Our Wolves, with 13 games played and 27 points, we were in third place and traveled to Gloucester to face the Hornets. The Hornets, who were in fourth place, had defeated us in our previous match, 3-1, at our Wolves’ home ground, and had also beaten League leaders, Fitzroy, the previous week. We knew this would be a challenge to secure our much needed win.
Meanwhile, Fitzroy, with 28 points from 13 games, was in second place and played the sixth-placed Falcons in a simultaneous match. The Falcons had recently managed to hold both our Wolves and the Lynwood Wolves to draws.
The third contender in the title race were the Lynwood Wolves, who had completed all 14 games and were temporarily at the top of the table with 29 points.
On paper, all three teams had a chance to win the championship. A victory for Fitzroy would have secured the title for them, but if they dropped points, the championship would depend on our Westboro Wolves’ result. Wolves were hoping for a miracle and a slip-up from Fitzroy, and to claim the title, they needed to focus on beating the Hornets and they did!
In a tense and thrilling encounter, our Wolves defeated the Hornets, securing the O.C.S.L. League championship.
Omid and Mostafa earned our final game honours. Congratulations to both of you!
WOLVES 3
GLOUCESTER 1
MR4
Our Wolves Silence da Bears!
By: Tony Zito, Team Manager
Game played: September 4th, 2024
Here we are, just like that! Our 2024 season is done.
Prior to this campaign, I sent out an email stating our goals and asking for one thing…commitment. Our group, each and every one of you, came to play and saw this through to the end. This has been our most successful statistical season in my 30 years with this Club. We finished this season with 13 wins, 1 loss, and a plus 46 goal differential. (*see all Men’s Rec standings below)
I hope you’ve enjoyed what I affectionately call the ‘Wolves experience‘, our culture is unlike other Clubs in this League and a lot of it has to do with the type of individuals we have on ours and other Wolves teams. You each bring a unique part of yourselves to the table and that ‘mosaic’ has brought us favourable results but most importantly, lasting friendships.
We are extremely PROUD of YOU as you should be of yourselves!
A SHOUT-OUT to our MR. SHUT-OUT, Anthony Weber (seen in the orange jersey, above). Anthony is always quick to praise his back-line for their efforts although he should take some credit for his presence in our crease was impressive!
Another SHOUT-OUT to posting 4 of the TOP 10 goal scorers in our division.
Chris and Kevin deservedly were bestowed the ‘Player of the Game’ honours for not only their performance in this game but throughout our season!
WOLVES 8
OTTAWA BEARS 1
OT1
OT5
OT6
The Wolves Come Out on Top!
By: Q. Vuniqi, Team Manager
Game played: September 13th, 2024
Having already clinched the championship, we were already in celebratory mode, even before the final game kicked off. Despite the current situation, we set out to do what we did for most of the season and that is to win. We wanted to show that we did not win by chance but by battling hard and our dedication.
The game got off to a slow start but we were the ones to draw first blood. Our striker, Q. Vuniqi, scored our first goal in a breakaway pass which the goalie nearly saved. The game went on with both teams attacking and defending like it’s a final. Just before the first half, the Eagles managed to tie the score to 1-1.
In the second half, we kept pressing, and finally broke through with another goal, again by Q, this one chipped over the Eagle’s keeper. This caused the opposing team to become disoriented and then Q scored our third and final goal which would eventually seal the deal. The game ended 3-1 for our Wolves.
We finished the season with 11W-1T-2L (34 pts). Though we’ve lost two games, we have also beaten each team in our division at least once. That is an amazing finish for our team and I cannot wait to see what we bring to the table next year! Speaking of next year, we will miss some of our key players who will be moving on to Masters 50+, but remember, you’re going out as champions and that’s a great accomplishment.
We wish to thank all of our team members for their hard work and dedication during the season as well as family members and other supporters that came out to cheer us on!
Thank you to the OCSL for their presentation of this Championship Trophy!
WOLVES 3
GLOUCESTER 1
MOT4
Our Wolves Find their Stride After a Cloudy Start!
By: Domenico Pecora, Team Keeper
Game played: September 6th, 2024
A cloudy, grey misty evening followed by rain would best define the last game of the season for the Westboro Wolves MOT4 team in the picturesque village of Almonte. The team was ready for any condition as garbage bags were packed and a canopy tent was set-up to keep our team dry. Despite our slow start, a sense of team was definitely witnessed prior and after the match. More on the ‘during’, later.
However, no match could start without team manager, Charles Vincent once again trying to find an audience to explain his ankle injury from 4 weeks ago that has kept him sidelined, this time, it was the match Referee who had to hear his story and to say he further embellished his injury would be an understatement. LOL!
Both sides were briefed prior to the match about the Referee’s expectations. Handshakes were exchanged and kick-off started this match. To say that the Wolves may have played their worst half of the season would be saying it mildly. Nothing could get our squad playing in unison. Perhaps our defeat the week before weighed on the team as they would not be able to claim the divisional Champs. Passes were either too short or too long, and above all no sense of play. I mentioned it was grey and cloudy, so was our play!!! Frustration was evident in the body language and in the spoken language as words of motivation and encouragement were falling flat. The poor half actually saw Almonte take a 1-0 lead with a series of misplays in the box that left the Wolves’, and one of the League’s leading shutout keepers, conceding a goal.
However, it was still not enough to get our side moving…that is until half-time.
The half-time pep talk and the arrival of one of our division’s leading scorers, Alonso Gartner, changed the dynamic of our team and added the much needed fire. Charles’ half time talk also helped as he had repeatedly indicated throughout the season that we were our own-worst enemy when struggling.
The second half started and within minutes a goal tied the match and the scoring continued with Alonso, Rob Badger (scoring not only 2 goals but possibly the ‘goal of the season’) and others contributing to the cause, which saw the Wolves net 6 goals and win the match under the heavy rain-filled sky!
Match highlights included:
-Kevin Wirvin feeling the burden of wearing the number 10 jersey in the first half but after a small pep-talk got his mind back in the game and provided invaluable ball distribution in the midfield.
-Tony Zito providing continued motivation and reminders of focus when the team was losing its edge.
-Moe Fakih overcoming the JLo/Affleck drama by connecting well with Oscar Arrieta and Alonso.
-The defensive unit coming-up big once they re-organized and put their minds back into the match. They continued their flawless play as our GK never saw another shot on our goal.
Overall, it was a team effort to overcome a poor start to the match. Eventually, we truly created a sense of team with everyone contributing in claiming a win and a solid second place finish. This was an amazing accomplishment since ours was a team that was cobbled together in very little time. Recognition goes to Tony Zito and Charles Vincent for their relentless effort in organizing and communicating, and above all creating a unified squad in so little time and establishing the foundation for a successful future for our Masters Team.
Editor’s note: We want to sincerely thank Domenico Pecora for his prose and enthusiasm. He was only supposed to a ‘placeholder‘ keeper for our team ( we all know how hard it is to find a dedicated keeper ) and we are truly grateful for sticking with us. In the end, I’m sure he had no regrets!
Dom came within one shout-out of tying our League Leader.
Thanks to our Gerry Valente for his delicious post-game focaccia-style pizza and cold bevies spread!
Matthew Crosier in fine form !
Roberto Smilovich clears the ball from the back-line.
Tony Zito boots a pass to his mid-fielder.
Our keeper, Domenico Pecora has his eye on the incoming ball !
Wolves’ defender, Paul Turnau, using his head !
Center-back, Domenico Mafrici !
We are grateful to photographer, Daniel Parent for taking these wonderful action photos from one of our recent games.
Congratulations to our Alonso Gartner, Jefferson ‘Airplane‘ Daugherty, and Oscar Arrieta for finishing in the TOP 10 of MOT4 scoring !
An impressive record for our first year squad. We came within a whisker of winning our division.
Our ‘Real Badger‘ earned these honours for making his mark and scoring a brace.
WOLVES 6
ALMONTE 1
Final Thoughts…
Our 2024 season is now behind us. Our Club has grown and we are projecting more expansion again next year. We’ve had success ‘on‘ the field but are indebted for what happens ‘off‘ the field as well.
We are truly appreciative of the tireless and dedicated volunteerism of ALL our team managers and to ALL our players for being a part of our ‘Wolf Pack’. The Ottawa-Carleton Soccer League (O.C.S.L.) has provided us with a canvas on which we can ply our soccer-playing passion and we are deeply grateful.
To our sponsors Villa Nova Dental, Zito Reno, and Hard Stones Grill, we say thank you once again for your support!
I’d like to personally thank Q. Vuniqi for his invaluable contributions to our Club the past few years, as our webmaster, Assistant Club Manager, but more as a good friend.
– Antonino (Tony) Zito, Club Manager
Be safe, enjoy the off-season, and we shall see you all in 2025.
FORZA WOLVES!
