The 2021 League1 Ontario season was the sixth season of play (the 2020 season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic) for the Women's Division of League1 Ontario, a Division 3 women's soccer league in the Canadian soccer pyramid and the highest level of soccer based in the Canadian province of Ontario.
The league announced a projected start date of July 2, 2021, also announcing a 'drop-dead date' of June 7, 2021 that will confirm the start of the season on that date depending on restrictions in the province, otherwise the season would be cancelled.
Format The league will be played in a single table of 7 teams, playing a total of 12 matches, with the top four clubs advancing to the playoffs.
Because the season began three months later than normal and with very short notice, some clubs have opted to delay their return to Premier Division competition until the 2022 season. As a large portion of the L1O player pool consisted of university and college student athletes, some sides would have limited squads after Labour Day. To combat these challenges, the league created a short-season ‘Summer Championship Series’ for 2021, which will conclude by Labour Day.
In addition, the Reserve Division will begin for the first time (after the inaugural women's reserve division was cancelled along with the rest of the league in 2020, following a similar format to the Premier Division, featuring 10 teams playing 12 matches, with the top teams advancing to the playoffs and featuring Championship Finals weekend on November 6-7.
Clubs The women's division consists of 15 teams, an increase from 13 teams in 2020. Guelph Union, Tecumseh SC, and Waterloo United are new addition, while Aurora FC did not return. North Toronto Nitros will also be making their official debut, after their inaugural season was cancelled due to the pandemic.
The following clubs are set to participate in the league:
Team City Principal stadium Main Division Summer Championship Division Reserve Division Alliance United FC Markham Mount Joy & Centennial College Withdrew Did not enter Participating Blue Devils FC Oakville Sheridan Trafalgar Stadium Participating Participating (Two teams) Withdrew Darby FC Whitby Whitby Soccer Centre & Darlington Field Withdrew Participating Withdrew Hamilton United Hamilton Ron Joyce Stadium & Tim Hortons Field Participating Did not enter Withdrew FC London London German Canadian Club Participating Did not enter Participating FC Oshawa Oshawa Civic Stadium Withdrew Did not enter Withdrew Guelph Union Guelph Alumni Stadium Withdrew Participating Withdrew North Mississauga SC Mississauga Paramount Fine Foods Centre Withdrew Did not enter Participating North Toronto Nitros Toronto Downsview Turf Participating Did not enter Withdrew Pickering FC Pickering Kinsmen Park Withdrew Did not enter Participating Tecumseh SC Tecumseh University of Windsor Stadium Participating Did not enter Participating Unionville Milliken SC Markham Azzurri Village & Mount Joy Withdrew Participating Participating Vaughan Azzurri Vaughan North Maple Regional Park Participating Participating Participating Waterloo United Waterloo Warrior Field, University of Waterloo Withdrew Participating Withdrew Woodbridge Strikers Vaughan Vaughan Grove Participating Did not enter Participating
The following clubs, while not formally part of the League1 Ontario women's division are operating teams in the Reserve Division (both clubs operate teams in the men's division):
Team City Principal stadium Main Division Summer Championship Division Reserve Division Master's Futbol Toronto L'Amoreaux Park N/A N/A Participating ProStars FC Brampton Victoria Park Stadium N/A N/A Participating
Main Division
Playoffs
Semi-finals
Final
Statistics
Top goalscorers
RankPlayerClubGoals 1 Jade Kovacevic FC London 16 2 Miranda Badovinac Hamilton United 9 3 Kennedi Herrmann Woodbridge Strikers 7 4 Laura Twidle Blue Devils FC 6 4 Jenny Wolever Hamilton United 5 Nia Fleming-Thompson Vaughan Azzurri Source:
Top goalkeepers
RankPlayerClubMinutesGAA 1 Marilena Spagnolo Hamilton United 270 0.67 Patricia Koutoulas North Toronto Nitros 270 0.67 3 Breanne Carreiro FC London 341 0.79 4 Vanessa Fiore Darby FC 856 0.84 5 Emily Gillet Woodbridge Strikers 739 0.85 Minimum 270 minutes played. Source:
Honours The following awards and nominations were awarded for the 2021 season.
Awards Award Player TeamMost Valuable Player Laura Twidle Blue Devils FCGolden Boot Jade Kovacevic FC LondonCoach of the Year Dave Porco Woodbridge StrikersTop Goalkeeper Vanessa Fiore Woodbridge StrikersTop Defender Meghan Scott FC LondonTop Midfielder Julia Benati FC London
League All-Stars
First Team Player Position Vanessa Fiore (Woodbridge Strikers) Goalkeeper Meghan Scott (FC London) Defender Christina White (Woodbridge Strikers) Defender Teniola Odetoyinho (Vaughan Azzurri) Defender Talia Merino-Sierra (Blue Devils FC) Defender Julia Benati (FC London) Midfielder April Syme (Woodbridge Strikers) Midfielder Lidia Bradau (Blue Devils FC) Midfielder Jade Kovacevic (FC London) Forward Laura Twidle (Blue Devils FC) Forward Jenny Wolever (Hamilton United) Forward
Second Team Player Position Emily Gillet (FC London) Goalkeeper Olivia Mancini (North Toronto Nitros) Defender Ariana Mouratidis (Woodbridge Strikers) Defender Lorena Marcone (Hamilton United) Defender Brooke MacLeod (Tecumseh SC) Defender Hannah Anderson (Hamilton United) Midfielder Brianne Desa (Vaughan Azzurri) Midfielder Angelika Mihalopoulos (FC London) Midfielder Jessie De Boer (North Toronto Nitros) Midfielder Miranda Badovinac (Hamilton United) Forward Kennedi Herrmann (Woodbridge Strikers) Forward
Summer Championship Division The league is operating a short-season division called the Summer Championship in 2021.
Reserve Division The league is set to operate a Reserve division this season as well.
Playoffs
Semi-finals
Final
References
External links