WEEKLY PREVIEW

SOCCER GOES ON THE ROAD FOR PLAYOFFS

Both soccer teams hit the road as the underdog in their first-round playoff matches.

The women are looking to advance to the second round for the first time in program history when they face off against the Centennial Colts (3-2-1). The Colts clinched a playoff spot after a 2-1 win over the Durham Lords in the season finale. This team is used to playing tight matches as five of their six matches have been decided two or fewer goals.

The Huskies are coming out of one of the toughest divisions in the country. They faced the No. 3 Seneca Sting and Humber Hawks, who have been in the CCAA ranking twice. The team has gotten better with every passing game. However, they will need to play their best match of the season to advance to the next round. 

The men's side will travel a bit farther east to battle the St. Lawrence Surge (4-2) in the first round. The Surge is coming into playoffs, having won four of their last five matches. They were first in the East Division and possibly going to get a bye into the second round heading into the final game but fell 3-1 to the Durham Lords, who then leapfrogged them for the top stop. The Huskies need to keep an eye on Tim Balfour, who leads St. Lawrence with three goals on the season.

The Huskies have taken time to jell as a unit with only a handful of players returning from the 2019 roster but have continuously gotten better every match. Like the women, they have played four matches against two of the tops squads in the OCAA in No. 3 Humber Hawks and Seneca Sting. The key for the Huskies is scoring on their chances. There have been times they dominated play throughout the campaign, but it hasn't translated to the scoreboard. So don't sleep on the Huskies pulling off an upset on the road.

Players to Watch

#10 Jennifer Seguin
The first-year midfielder has been a top playmaker for the Huskies this season. She leads the team in goals (4) and shots (6) while setting up her teammates. 

#14 Christopher Badibengi
Badibgeni has been in the middle of the Huskies offensive plays the last three games. The first-year striker has found the back of the net in two of the previous three matches.

BASEBALL LOOKS TO PUNCH THEIR TICKET TO PLAYOFFS

This week, the men's baseball team has four games and needs to put a few wins together to qualify for the program's first playoffs.

It begins on Wednesday (Oct, 13th) night when they host the Seneca Sting (7-2) at Ajax Sportsplex. The Sting comes in as the top team in the East and need to continue winning to clinch that spot. They are coming off a 16-7 loss to the St. Clair Saints that snapped a six-game winning streak.

They wrap up their season against the Lambton Lions (1-9) on Saturday (16th) afternoon at Bernie Arbour Memorial Stadium in Hamilton, Ont. This doubleheader could be a win-or-go-home scenario. George Brown's offence could take advantage of the Lions pitching staff that have surrendered a league-high 13.4 runs per game.

The Huskies remain one game back of the Centennial Colts for the final playoff spot in the East Division with two games in hand. George Brown will need to win a few games and get help from other OCAA teams to get into the playoffs.

The key for the Huskies in all of these games is getting out to a fast start. The team has trailed after the first inning in six of their last seven games. The offence needs to come alive this week to make sure their season doesn't end on Saturday.


Players to Watch

#17 Kyle Bandura
While assigned to play center field, the first-year outfield has been one of the best bats this season. He has posted a team-high .407 batting average, 11 hits, three stolen bases and seven runs this season. 

#13 Brady Wagenhoffer
The first-year player has been put in four different positions this season (catch, third base, shortstop and pitcher) while contributing with his bat. His stat line stands at a .238 batting average while amassing five hits, two RBIs, and five runs.