Condors Men’s Soccer Capture Second OCAA Title in Three Seasons

The Conestoga Condors completed their storybook season with a 2–0 win over the defending OCAA and CCAA National Champion Humber Hawks on Sunday, Oct. 25, capturing the 2025 OCAA Men’s Soccer Championship for a second time in three years! Against the top-ranked team in the country, the Condors played with confidence, unity, and precision to reclaim their spot at the top of Ontario collegiate soccer.

After winning OCAA gold and earning a CCAA silver medal in 2023, the Condors entered the 2024 season as one of the teams to beat. A strong 7–2–1 regular season showed their potential, but an early playoff exit to the Seneca Sting left a sense of unfinished business. That team used that disappointment as motivation for their journey ahead.

In 2025, the group returned with a renewed focus and commitment. Conestoga finished 8–2 in the regular season, with their only two losses being narrow 1–0 defeats to Humber. The Condors’ identity was built on elite defending, allowing only four goals all season and earning the title of OCAA Best Defensive Team. Led by the steady presence of Andreas Florescu and Anthony D’Souza on the back line and the commanding goalkeeping of Pedja Jovicic, the Condors turned every match into a test of discipline. On offence, their balance was unmatched, with twelve different players contributing goals and a midfield anchored by Matteo Grant, Sebastian Martinez, and Evan Antolcic setting the tempo.

Team captain Saab Kohar said the group’s progress was clear from the start.

“The progress has been amazing. As the season went on, practices kept getting better and more competitive, which is what you want in a championship-winning team. By the end, we were playing the best football we’d played all year at the perfect time.”

Playoff journey

First Round – Conestoga 9, Lakehead Orillia 0

The Condors opened the postseason with a statement. Playing at home at the Fountain Street Soccer Complex, they overwhelmed the Lakehead Orillia Thunderwolves 9–0. Six different players found the scoresheet, including a hat trick from Ricardo Alvarado. The midfield-controlled possession throughout, and the back line allowed almost no chances, setting the tone for what would become a historic playoff run.

OCAA Quarterfinal – Conestoga 4, Mohawk 0

In the quarterfinal, Conestoga continued its relentless form, shutting out the Mohawk Mountaineers 4–0. The Condors struck early and often, with goals from Elliott Dell, Alvarado, Marko Lesic, and McKeon. The result marked their second straight clean sheet of the playoffs, and the team’s energy on both sides of the ball showed a group hitting peak form at the right time.

OCAA Semifinal – Conestoga 3, Algonquin 2

Travelling to Ottawa for the OCAA Final Four, the Condors faced host Algonquin College in front of a raucous home crowd. Marko Lesic delivered a breakout performance, scoring all three goals for Conestoga. The Condors took a 1–0 lead into halftime and extended it to 3–0 by the 78th minute. But Algonquin refused to go quietly, striking twice in the closing minutes to cut the lead to 3–2. With the Wolves pressing for an equalizer, Jovicic and the defence held firm to close out a tense finish and send Conestoga back to the OCAA final.

Lesic later reflected on the turning point that helped the team reach its potential.

“The mindset changed about halfway through the season. The coaches and older players realized we had way more potential. We had a team meeting before our first Mohawk game about mentality and effort, and since that night we never looked back. That talk changed everything.”

OCAA Championship Final – Conestoga 2, Humber 0

In the gold medal match, the Condors met a familiar foe: the Humber Hawks. Having lost twice to Humber in the regular season, Conestoga entered determined to flip the script. The match couldn’t have started better. In the 13th minute, Luca Romano rose to meet a perfect cross from Ricardo Alvarado, burying a header to give Conestoga the early lead.

The game’s defining moment came in the 37th minute when Jovicic was shown a yellow card after a challenge in the box, giving Humber a penalty and a golden chance to equalize. Franz Mella stepped up to the spot, but Jovicic guessed correctly, diving to his left, forcing Mella to push the shot wide off the post! It was a moment that shifted the energy of the entire match.

In the second half, Conestoga struck again. In the 52nd minute, Marko Lesic scored his fourth goal of the weekend, giving the Condors a 2–0 advantage. From there, Conestoga’s defending and composure sealed the victory and the championship.

“One of the best feelings in the world for sure,” Lesic said after the final. “It meant a lot that I could make a difference on a team I’m supposed to be leading. It was special knowing I could extend our season and give these guys a chance to experience what I did two years ago.”

Lesic was named OCAA Men’s Soccer Championship MVP, while Alvarado and Grant were named Championship All-Stars.

Kohar, who has been part of the program for five seasons, reflected on what it means to wear the Condors crest.

“It has meant everything. Joining as a rookie, then becoming assistant captain and now captain, it’s exactly how I dreamed it. The players before me taught me a lot, and now I pass that on to the next group. Keep repeating the cycle and Conestoga soccer will keep going in the right direction.”

With the victory, the Condors advance to the 2025 CCAA Men’s Soccer National Championship in Saint-Lambert, Quebec, where they’ll once again share the field with Humber, the defending national champions.

As Lesic put it simply:

“Job’s not finished. Some of us have been in this situation before. We’re not satisfied with OCAA gold, we’re hungry for CCAA gold.”

Season awards and recognition

Conestoga’s season dominance was reflected in their year-end honours:

OCAA West Division Player of the Year: Evan Antolcic

OCAA Coach of the Year: Stuart Mackie (second time in three years; 2023 OCAA and CCAA Coach of the Year)

OCAA Best Defensive Team: Conestoga Condors

OCAA West Division First Team All-Stars: Evan Antolcic, Pedja Jovicic, Luca Romano

OCAA West Division Second Team All-Stars: Anthony D’Souza, Saab Kohar, Marko Lesic, Sebastian Martinez Jaramillo, Gregor McKeon

OCAA All-Rookie Team: Elliott Dell

CCAA All-Canadians: Evan Antolcic, Pedja Jovicic

#StrivingToSoar