Late tally from Fiore sends Men's Soccer to national semifinal
| 90:00 - 2nd | 1 | 2 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Montmorency () | 1 | 0 | 1 |
|
Humber () | 1 | 1 | 2 |
By: Fernando Bossoes
Humber Athletics Communications
SAINT-LAMBERT, QC – Humber men's soccer began the 2026 CCAA Men's Soccer National Championship with a close 2-1 victory over the Réseau du sport étudiant du Québec (RSEQ) champions Nomades de Montmorency on Wednesday afternoon at Seaway Park.
The victory sends Humber to its 14th CCAA semifinal appearance in program history. The Hawks will now play the UKC Blue Devils, who beat the Capilano Blues 4-2 in penalty kicks.
Match recap
The 2026 CCAA Men's Soccer National Championship kicked off on Quebec soil in Saint-Lambert, with a quarter-final clash between two teams walking very different paths.
The Nomades de Montmorency were fresh off a storybook run in the RSEQ, claiming their first provincial title since 2022 after blanking the previously unbeaten and defending champions Cavaliers in an upset that shocked the conference. The Nomades aimed to carry that form onto the national stage in pursuit of their first CCAA gold.
Canada's top-ranked team, meanwhile, had something to prove. After a perfect 13-0 campaign, Humber stumbled in the OCAA final against Conestoga and advanced to nationals as a wild card. The mission was simple: reset the tone, restore confidence, and reignite their pursuit of an 11th national championship.
The Hawks stayed true to their mission and struck first. Yasaka dribbled past a defender inside the 18-yard box, and after a pair of rebounds, Michael Crocco capitalized to open the scoring in the ninth minute.
Montmorency quickly responded just four minutes later. A possession lost in the midfield set up a quick counterattack, and Nomades' leading scorer Ilyas Mardi showed his class with a delicate chip over the keeper to level the match.
Moments after the equalizer, a second yellow card left Montmorency down to ten men, allowing Humber to dominate possession.
The Nomades dropped deep, keeping all nine players behind midfield and relying on quick counterattacks. This limited Humber's opportunities as the first half ended level, 1-1.
In the second half, head coach Jason Mesa brought on Franz Mella, hoping to inject some creativity in midfield. The move immediately changed the tempo as Humber dominated the opening 20 minutes of the half.
The Nomades struggled to escape their own end, barely touching the ball under relentless Hawks pressure.
The 73rd minute proved Coach Mesa had a plan.
Mella received the ball on the left side just outside the box, drawing the defence before whipping a cross to the far post. Carmine Fiore met it perfectly, heading into the bottom-left corner to give Humber a 2-1 lead.
The Hawks managed their lead and secured the victory, clinching their spot in the national semifinals.
Carmine Fiore was named the Player of the Match, presented by 4imprint Canada.
Humber Highlights
- Humber improves to a perfect 2-0 all-time record against Montmorency.
- The Hawks boast a 16-1 all-time record in CCAA quarterfinal matches.
- Humber holds an 11-2 all-time record against RSEQ opponents.
- Carmine Fiore has scored three goals this season — all coming in the postseason.
- Freshman Michael Crocco has recorded 12 points in five postseason matches, while Franz Mella picked up his fifth assist.
What's Next?
The Hawks have secured their spot in the semifinal round and will face the UKC Blue Devils. Kickoff is set for 5:30 p.m. Stay tuned to @humberhawks and @humbermsoc for updates.
