Alison Brownlee
Sports Reporter

The Humber men’s and women’s indoor soccer teams will go for gold at a two-day provincial championship tournament that starts today at the Ontario Soccer Association soccer centre in Vaughan.

“If we go in with a desire to win it, we will,” said men’s midfielder Andrew DaSilva.

Both squads will have to outplay seven of Ontario’s best teams to win the gold medal.

During regional playoffs earlier this month, the women placed first overall while the men placed second in their division, losing only to Sheridan.

“They overworked us, that’s why they beat us,” said DaSilva. “We have the skill, they just wanted it more.”

Going into provincials, he said the Hawks are anxious to play Sheridan again.

“It’s a revenge thing,” said DaSilva.

Over the past 12 years, Humber men’s indoor team has won 10 provincial championships.

Last year, Redeemer College ousted the Hawks in the final to take home the gold.

Redeemer head coach Tom Sauder said his team is looking forward to facing Humber again.

“If we didn’t have great teams like Humber,” he said, “We’d have no targets to shoot for, and no reason to get better.”

DaSilva was not surprised by the reaction.

“We’re the team every one goes out to try to beat,” he said.

The Hawk women are also favoured to win the tournament.

“The team is confident,” said goalkeeper Rose Mary Ormeno. “We just have to go out and play and have fun.”
Ormeno said no one on her team would be satisfied with a silver medal.  “We want go out there and win,” she said.

Despite her team’s strong showing this season, midfielder Melissa Migliazza said it can’t focus on past performances.

“We’ll be facing teams that we played in the outdoor season,” she said of the Hawks, who won OCAA gold last fall.

“They’re the more competitive teams, so we have to go into provincials with a whole new game plan.”

There is little consensus on who will be toughest competition for the Hawks.

“Durham is a competitive team,” said Ormeno. “And so is Conestoga.”