Fiore’s brace powers No. 1 Men’s Soccer past Seneca and into OCAA final
OTTAWA – No. 1 Humber men's soccer (13-0, 1st West) secured their seventh consecutive trip to the OCAA championship match after defeating the No. 4 Seneca Sting (10-1-2, 2nd East) 3-0 on Saturday afternoon at Algonquin Sports Field. Captain Carmine Fiore delivered the difference, scoring a pair of headers in crucial moments of the match.
The Hawks extend their unbeaten streak against Seneca to 16 years and advance to face the No. 8 Conestoga Condors (11-2, 2nd West) in the OCAA final.
The victory also secures Humber a berth at the 2025 CCAA Men's Soccer Championship, taking place from Nov. 5 to 8 in Saint-Lambert, Que., as the OCAA will send two representatives to nationals this year.
Match recap
This OCAA semifinal between the Humber Hawks and the Seneca Sting carried plenty of storylines.
History was on the line. Seneca chased its first OCAA gold since 2003 and redemption after last year's semifinal loss to Humber.
Numbers told another story. Both teams entered undefeated, part of a select group of just five Canadian collegiate programs yet to fall in 2025.
And then there was leadership. Former Hawks head coach Michael Aquino, who led Humber to eight OCAA and seven CCAA titles over 11 seasons, now stood on the opposite sideline guiding the Sting.
A clash of history, numbers and leadership, this match shaped up as Humber's toughest test of the season.
In such a heavyweight match, it was the program with the heavier jersey that landed the first blow.
After tense opening minutes, rookie Michael Crocco found a perfect cross into the box at the seven-minute mark. Captain Carmine Fiore wisely slipped his marker and powered a header into the net, putting Humber ahead.
Despite trailing 1-0, Seneca looked comfortable on the pitch. Playing classic Aquino ball, with quick passes in the midfield, the Sting pushed Humber against the wall but couldn't find the final touch
Their best look came from Kahinde Salau's one-on-one with the keeper, but the shot went wide of the left post.
The referee blew the halftime whistle with Humber holding a 1-0 lead.
In the second half, the tension was palpable. The crowd saw a very physical game as the match grew scrappy, making the referee's whistle a constant sound.
With ten minutes left on the clock, Luca Pinto stepped up to the corner flag. The cross looked for a familiar target — Fiore. The captain rose above three defenders and blasted a header into the net for a late 2-0 lead.
In added time, Cristiano Candelaresi picked off a loose pass in Seneca's half, drove into the box with space and calmly sealed the deal to make it three.
The final whistle sent Humber to their seventh consecutive OCAA championship match, with a shot at their 17th provincial crown.
Humber Highlights
- The Hawks improve to 18-6-4 all-time against the Sting.
- Humber holds an 8-2 all-time record against Seneca in OCAA postseason play.
- The Hawks have not lost to Seneca since 2009, posting 12 wins and one draw since.
- Humber boasts a 78-21 all-time record in the OCAA postseason.
- The Hawks extend their winning streak to 28 games, a run dating back to September 2024.
- This marks Humber's 25th appearance in the OCAA gold-medal game over 38 seasons, and their seventh consecutive trip to the final
- Humber remains one of just four undefeated collegiate teams in Canada, alongside No. 11 NAIT Ooks (ACAC), No. 6 Champlain Saint-Lambert Cavaliers (RSEQ) and the No. 3 UKC Blue Devils (ACAA).
What's Next?
The Hawks will take on the No. 8 Conestoga Condors (11-2, 2nd West) in the OCAA championship match tomorrow, Oct. 26, at 3 p.m. Fans can follow the action live on OCAA Live as Humber looks to capture its 17th OCAA title.
