The men’s soccer team remained unbeaten after closing out its regular season with two wins against the Conestoga Condors and Sheridan Bruins.
The team, still ranked number 1 nationally, won its final home game against the Condors on Oct. 8 and its final game against the Bruins on Oct. 11.
These results mean the Hawks finish the season with a perfect 10-0 record, one of five collegiate teams in Canada to remain undefeated after the regular season campaign.
This is a feat that has not been achieved since the 2022-2023 season, when Humber took home the national gold for the ninth time.
With its win over Conestoga, the Hawks also clinched their 27th Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) West Division title.
Before the game against the Condors, two graduating seniors on that 2022-2023 team were recognized: Isaiah Noel and Luca Pinto.
Noel and Pinto have each won two provincial and national titles, with both being part of the Hawks’ stellar defensive core over the past four seasons.
Noel closed out his career as a Humber Hawk with the lone game-clinching goal against Conestoga.
Coach Jason Mesa said he and the players watched film from the first game against the Condors to identify any weak points and improvements they could address.
Humber defeated Conestoga 1-0 away, with a goal from first-year forward Tyler Yasaka deciding the match in Cambridge a month ago.
“Conestoga's been a really good team over the past couple of years, so it doesn't surprise me that they've had the success that they've had,” Mesa said.
Humber went back to its usual scoreline seen this season.
After conceding a goal for the first time in six games against Redeemer, the Condors failed to put a ball in the Hawks’ net and past third-year goalie Amar Dhindsa.
Mesa said they addressed the “breakdown” in practice and worked to find where the issue originated.
The first half was pretty quiet for both sides.
Conestoga forced the Hawks to defend and had a few valuable chances, but they couldn't find the back of the net.
The Condors were able to create six shots in the first half, to Humber’s one, and managed to win six corners to Humber’s one.
Both teams went into halftime even, unable to find the winning chance to decide the match. But beginning in the second half, it was the Hawks who were committed to finding that winning opportunity.
Three minutes after the break, third-year midfielder Matias Lescano put a corner into the Conestoga area, and Condors captain Saab Kohar misjudged the clearance.
It fell to Noel at the back post for a measured finish into the bottom-right corner to give the Hawks the lead.
“[They are a] very good team, good players, good coaching staff, and they’re disciplined,” Noel said.
He said every game against Conestoga “must be treated like a championship game.”
The goal for Humber put them in a comfortable position for the remainder of the afternoon.
History was on their side as well, with the Hawks boasting an undefeated record of 15-0-1 against the Condors at home since 1974.
The strategy changed for Humber after the goal, with the team taking a defensive approach, letting Conestoga pass it around in their half, but not any further.
The Hawks perfectly executed this tactic until the final whistle and were able to hold on to the 1-0 result to repeat as divisional champions and go 9-0 on the season.
It was made a perfect 10-in-10 after they defeated the Sheridan Bruins in the season finale on Oct. 11.
Two goals from third-year midfielder Tariq Joseph and a goal from Yasaka sealed the 3-1 victory for the Hawks to give them full momentum going into the postseason.
For Humber’s men’s team, their postseason starts on Oct. 15 when they face the St. Lawrence Surge at Vaughan Grove Sports Park. Kickoff is at 3 p.m.
