Also: More MUFC results, Streamlining Development in Muskoka, Euro 2024 Qualifying, Messi in Miami’s undefeated streak continues

It was the best way possible to win a league title: at home with lots of enthusiastic support, and with a game to spare.

The Muskoka United FC U17 Boys team are the Huronia District Soccer League champions for 2023 and kept their undefeated streak (in league play) alive with a title clinching 3-0 victory over Collingwood at Gostick Park in Bracebridge on Tuesday night.

Zach Caplan scored twice with Knightley Weening grabbing the other while Kai Doughty earned a clean sheet in the win.

The team’s co-captains included Caplan, Finlay Paterson, Rowan Simpson and Alfie Napper. I reached out to their Coach Dave Caplan via email for his and their thoughts on the season.

“It feels great to win the league this year,” says Simpson. “Our team really deserved through all the hard work at practices and games. Finally beating the one team we hadn’t beat all season to win the title really put the cherry on the top of an amazing season. From player’s perspective, the season was really fun. Going to the Peterborough tournament at the start of the year was a great experience and it just got better from there.”

Showing the incredible bond and team culture, Paterson mentions one of their players who was injured a few weeks ago during a match.

“It feels great!” he exclaims. “Our biggest goal this season was to be a contender for the league and we were finally able to achieve that goal. Winning on our home field in front of our fans was really special. One of our players, Andrew Maduri, was forced to stop playing near the end of the season due to a leg injury. He kept coming to all of our games and supporting us even though he wasn’t able to play. Before the Collingwood game, we talked about playing for Andy and leaving it all on the field for him. It feels like our season is complete now, like we did what needed to be done.”

The U17 Boys (8 wins, 3 draws, 0 losses in HDSL league play) have one match remaining, an away game at North Simcoe on Tuesday, September 12.

Though they’ll be aiming to finish the season in style, nothing can take away from this group’s fantastic efforts – especially when considering this group featured players which were on three different teams last season.

“Coming into this season we had three teams merging into one, including many players who had never played together or even met before,” says Paterson. “Over the course of the year we really grew and developed as a team. We went from a bunch of guys to a coordinated team that played with each other and for each other. Going undefeated in the league was a huge accomplishment for this group and I’m really proud of all the boys for giving it everything week in and week out.”

Coach Dave Caplan adds that last year some of the players were even rivals competing against each other in the league. He says though the season is overall a success, it had some rocky beginnings and took time for the squad to gel.

“We’ve been very good since mid July and have only conceded two goals in our last sx matches, while scoring 21 times,” he says. “The team vibes and camaraderie are very good and everyone is working towards a common goal.  It’s been simply amazing to watch this team grow.”

While winning the league was a great result, there is that lingering feeling that they let one slip away by getting eliminated in the HDSL Cup tournament.

“Playing the season has been great, but I feel a little disappointed at being knocked out of the cup,” says Zach Caplan.

That semi-final Cup loss to bitter rivals Orillia was a contentious match which saw MUFC take the lead, but then lose focus and allow momentum to shift. Their composure went out the window as Orillia snatched an improbable victory.

However, that semi-final Cup loss halfway through the season provided an opportunity to grow for the team.

“Our coaching team decided to do a hard reset and held a mandatory team meeting to discuss our mentality with the team,” says Dave Caplan. “Positivity and teamwork were a focus of our mentality going forward.  Once we did, the team’s competitiveness went up a level.”

Sure enough, they haven’t lost a match since and according to each of the team’s captains, they really developed a strong bond.

“I have played football for years with a lot of different teammates,” says Alfie Napper. “I have developed many friendships along the way but this team is truly something else. Every single player on our team plays with tons of passion And I love every single one of my teammates. We all shared tons of jokes and had fun all season. Through the ups and downs, we stayed undefeated in the league and showed our class. I’m proud of our determination and proud to be one of the captains of this wonderful team.”

Adds Zach Caplan: “The team has gotten super tight this year. It really felt like the closer we were, the better we played.”

The full MUFC U17 Boys roster for the 2023 season included Alfie Napper, Andres Alfaro, Andrew Maduri, Andrew Walisser, Callahan Alexander, Callum Simpson, Finlay Paterson, Jacob Oliver, Johnny Fiorini, Kai Doughty, Knightley Weening, Max Kirstein, Michael Dooley, Noah Bell, Noah Graham, Rowan Simpson, Tyler Horvath Thompson, Wyatt Heffernan, and Zach Caplan.

The team’s staff consisted of head coach Dave Caplan, assistant coach Andrew Paterson, and manager Jennifer Simpson.

Here is a gallery of select photos from the U17 Boys season submitted by the team.

MUFC Round-Up

Having already been crowned Huronia District Soccer League (HDSL) U15 Girls division champions, the Muskoka United FC U15 girls were on a bye week ahead of their final game in Collingwood on Tuesday, Sept. 12.

The U15 Boys hosted Markham at Gostick Park on Thursday night. Their next game is at Bradford on Sept. 16.

The U17 Girls travelled to Lake Simcoe on Sept. 6, following a 2-0 home loss to Vaughan on August 30 at Gostick Park. This week’s result will be updated once it is made available. Their next game is away to Newmarket on Sept. 13.

The Muskoka United U13 Girls take on Whitby this Saturday, Sept. 9 at Conroy Park in Huntsville, kick-off is 3 p.m. They will then have a short turnaround and travel to Pickering on Monday, Sept. 11.

REP DEVELOPMENT IN MUSKOKA

After much deliberation and debate, the Huntsville Soccer Club and Bracebridge Soccer Club have made the decision to streamline rep development programs under the Muskoka United Football Club banner.

This decision means that all rep programming in Muskoka, from U8 through U18, will be unified as the clubs recognized the need to give children the best possible soccer training and experiences.

MUFC welcomes children from throughout the region, as well as those communities to the North, South, East, and West who want to join a club on the rise.

By combining all the rep programs, youth soccer players – particularly at the development ages from U8 through U12 – will be able to grow together and reach new heights throughout our district and beyond.

To kick things off, the three clubs are hosting an MUFC Development Day event on Saturday, September 9 beginning at 10:45 a.m. at Gostick Park in Bracebridge to gauge interest and enjoy a training session with the amazing Coach Ray Wright.

Schedule for Development Day
U9/U10 Boys – arrival 10:45 p.m.
U9/U10 Girls – arrival 11:45 p.m.
U11/U12 Boys – arrival 12:45 p.m.
U11/U12 Girls – arrival 1:45 p.m.

A fall Development Day in Huntsville is being planned for October 21 at Conroy Park to utilize the artificial turf field.

Those looking for more information can email: muskokaunitedfc@gmail.com

EURO 2024 Qualifying

The international break has begun with most leagues taking a break so various qualifying events can occur.

With all due respect to South American World Cup Qualifying, the most significant event taking place right now is Euro 2024 Qualifying as that tournament (which many consider the toughest to win) takes place in Germany in less than a year.

On Thursday, Hungary picked a big 2-1 away to Serbia to see them sit three points clear at the top of Group G with all teams having played four matches. France and the Netherlands also picked up wins on Thursday.

Friday’s big match sees Portugal traveling to Slovakia in a battle for first place in Group J (kick off is 2:45 p.m.), meanwhile Spain, Croatia, Turkey and Scotland face lesser opponents and should all win.

On Saturday, Italia travels to North Macedonia on Saturday, Sept. 9 (2:45 p.m. EST kick-off) in Group C action. No one will forget that it was the North Macedonians that eliminated the four-time World Cup champions and current European title holders from Qatar 2022.

Earlier on Sept. 9, also in Group C, England will be visiting Ukraine with an eye towards staying atop the group (noon kick-off).

On Sunday, the biggest match of the day sees Finland host Denmark with the Danes (7 points from 4 matches) attempting to close the gap on the first-place Finnish team (12 points from 5 matches). The Netherlands and Poland also are in action on Sunday.

On Monday, Portugal and Croatia are among those in action that should pick up victories.

On Tuesday, Italia hosts Ukraine in Group C action, while Norway, Sweden and Belgium also have matches that day.

Full tables, schedules and results can be found at: https://www.uefa.com/european-qualifiers/

ALL EURO 2024 Qualifying Matches are Available on DAZN Canada.

No Messi this weekend in Miami

Inter Miami will be hosting Sporting Kansas City on Saturday, Sept. 9 (kick off is 7:30 p.m.) and with Lionel Messi having been called up for national duty with Argentina, it’s unlikely he’ll be available to play.

While the majority of the world stops their domestic seasons for the international breaks, MLS has never done so (for no logical reason) and that has caused havoc over the years for many teams that lost players at inopportune times in the season.

While Miami may lose this match (though, even without the GOAT they can win this one), it won’t mean anything unless Messi is the line-up and takes the pitch.

A loss where Messi doesn’t play means he will still be undefeated in North American club football.

So, as I’ve mentioned before, until this doesn’t fit anymore, we’ll be repeating some form of the following sentence week in and out in this column.

Maybe Inter Messi & Friends never lose again and we’re witnessing one of the greatest sports stories in history.

All MLS Matches are available on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.

Next week we’ll take a look at the MLS stretch run into the playoffs, the three European club competitions taking off, and more.