The Simcoe County Rovers played the Oakville Blue Devils in the semi-finals of the League1 Ontario Cup last Wednesday night and came away with a well-deserved 3-0 win.
Captain Tajay Reid got things started in the 13th minute when he converted on a well-executed corner kick. The Rovers controlled the play and generated opportunities but could not finish and the half ended with a 1-0 Rovers lead.
The game tightened up in the second half as the Blue Devils pressed to equalize. Attacking midfielder Orlendis Benitez provided some breathing room when he calmly finished his chance to give the Rovers a 2-0 lead in the 73rd minute.
Winger Aidan Hugo netted in the 90th minute to send the Rovers onto the finals for Friday, September 6, which will be played at the Zanchin Automotive Centre in Vaughan. The game is set for 8:30 p.m.
“I thought the game against Oakville was a top performance,” said Sporting Director Doneil Henry.
“The boys managed every moment of the game and stuck to our game plan. A clean sheet and 3 goals is a bonus. The boys never go into any of the games unprepared and they executed well today.”
The Rovers-versus-Vaughan matches are always exciting and full of drama.
Since joining League1 Ontario in 2022, the teams have played each other six times. The Rovers have won 2, drawn 3 and lost 1.
The Rovers' one loss came in the 2022 playoff semi-finals played in Vaughan. Vaughan went on to win the finals and represent League1 Ontario in the Canadian Championships. The Rovers promptly returned the favour the following year, beating Vaughan 4-2 in the semi-finals of the 2023 playoffs and beating Scrosoppi FC in the finals. This season, the teams played to a 1-1 draw on the first match of the League1 Ontario season and recently to a thrilling 4-4 draw in Barrie.
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When asked about the upcoming match against Vaughan and the rivalry that has been established since the Rovers entered League1 Ontario, Henry had this to say:
“The Vaughan and Rovers derby matches have lived up to the hype. I’m excited to see how the boys rise to the occasion. Vaughan is a well-coached team with a lot of attacking threats. We will have to find ways to disrupt the game's rhythm and the overloads they are great at orchestrating. We have been a resilient group this season and I know the only thing that will satisfy this group is a cup win.”
The League1 Cup is another opportunity to bring silverware back to Barrie and the Simcoe County community, an opportunity not lost on club President and CEO Peter Raco.
"It's an incredible honour for our club to be back in a final in 2024. We’ve continued to hit major milestones; winning the league in 2023, competing in the Canadian Championship against giants Toronto FC earlier this year, and now earning a spot in the League1 Cup Finals.
"Huge credit goes to our players and coaching staff for turning around the 2024 campaign after a slow start. Doneil Henry, our Sporting Director, has injected unmatched energy and experience into our technical team, setting a new standard in League1.
"We reached new heights on and off the field in 2024. On the field, we consistently filled our home stands at J.C. Massie Field throughout the season and we travelled with over 2,000 fans to BMO Field for the Canadian Championship. Off the field, we made significant strides in developing a youth football pathway in partnership with Barrie Soccer Club. We saw over a dozen players from the reserve and youth teams make appearances for both the women’s and men’s first team which has only accelerated our vision of transforming Simcoe County into a soccer hotbed.
“These accomplishments do not happen on their own nor are they easy to facilitate. Our ownership group and management team—especially Will Devellis (COO) and David Zbar (CMO)—share a unified vision to develop football the right way and have worked tirelessly to achieve our goals and help grow the game and a soccer culture in Barrie."
The League1 Cup final will be played on Friday, September 6, 2024. Matchkick-off is 8:30 p.m.
The game will be held at the Zanchin Automotive Soccer Centre located at 7601 Martin Grove Road in Vaughan, Ontario.
Tickets can be purchased through League1 Ontario at: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/league1-mens-cup-final-tickets-1004514187977?aff=oddtdtcreator or the League1 Ontario website.
For more information on the Simcoe County Rovers FC, including schedule details, ticket purchase options and sponsorship opportunities, please visit www.roversfc.ca.
Single and group tickets to the match can be purchased by visiting www.roversfc.ca.
