The defending champion Labatt Laurentians downed arch-rival Holy Cross Crusaders 2-0 Friday afternoon at King George V Park in the 1-2 Page playoff game to open the Challenge Cup championship tournament.
The win sends St. Lawrence directly to the final, which will be played 2 p.m. Sunday at KGV. The Laurentians have made appearance in the last four Challenge Cup championship games winning two of them, and bowing to Holy Cross in the other two.
Stefan Slaney, St. Lawrence’s leading scorer in the regular season, scored 30 minutes into the game, Mark Brefo added a second-half tally and veteran ‘keeper John Douglas posted the shutout for the Laurentian, who had finished first in the regular season.
Despite the loss, the second-place Kirby United Crusaders remain alive in the tourney. Holy Cross gets another chance to advance to the final as it plays in the Page semifinal against Mount Pearl First Choice Haircutters 3 p.m. Saturday at KGV.
Mount Pearl got to the senifinal by beating Feildians Ernst and Young 1-0 in Friday night's 3-4 Page Playoff.
Ryan Thistle's second-half goal stood up for Feildians thanks to shutout work by Brandon Noseworthy, who had been named the Challenge Cup's top goaltender before the game when the league handed out ist season-end awards.
The admission price for the tournament is $8 per game. The league is again partnering with the Community Food Sharing Association and fans are being asked to bring a non-perishable food donation to the games to help those in need.
All the weekend games will be broadcast on VOCM Marystown (740), with Russ Murphy and Rick Farrell on the call for a 26th year. They will also be live-streamed on Bell Aliant.
The winner of Sunday’s final will play in the Canadian Challenge Cup tournament next month in Surrey, B.C.
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Award-winners, all-stars
Between the two playoff games at King George V Park Friday, the Molson Challenge Cup provincial men’s soccer league announced its 2017 award-winners and all-star teams.
Bobby Breen Award (First place, regular season)
St. Lawrence Laurentians
Jim Goff Award (Most spirited player)
Trevor Ivany, C.B.S. Strikers
Wils Molloy Golden Boot Award (Top scorer)
Tyler Forsey, Mount Pearl
Jeff Babstock Award (Top defender)
Greg Reid, Feildians
John Breen Award (Top midfielder)
Jake Warren, Holy Cross
Al Slaney Memorial Award (Top goalie)
Brandon Noseworthy, Mount Pearl
Ed Moyst Award (Rookie of the year)
Mark Brefo, St. Lawrence
Dick Power Award (Regular-season MVP)
Jake Warren, Holy Cross
Alphonsus Warren Award (Coach of the year)
Jeremy Babstock, Holy Cross
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All-Star Team
Tyler Forsey, Mount Pearl
Jake Warren, Holy Cross
Jordi Slaney, St. Lawrence
Tyler Kirby, Holy Cross
Mark Brefo, St. Lawrence
Mike Dunne, Holy Cross
Mark Pitman, St. Lawrence
Greg Reid, Feildians
Kevin Oram, Mount Pearl
Alex Pretty, Holy Cross
Brandon Noseworthy, Mount Pearl
