Monday July 30, 2001.

Scarborough Mirror: Olympians remain kings of CPSL castle
by DJT

Olympians remain kings of CPSL castle

By SAM LASKARIS Special to The Mirror

It's not a surprise to see the Toronto Olympians sitting atop the Canadian Professional Soccer League standings.

After all, the Scarborough-based club finished atop the Canadian Professional Soccer League (CPSL) standings in each of the past three years.

With an 8-4-0 record, the Olympians sit atop the 12-team league with 24 points (clubs are awarded three points for each victory).

"To be honest, I'm enjoying it a bit more this year," said Olympians coach David Gee of his club's first-place position. "The quality of the teams has improved. Every team in the league has improved."

The Olympians began this week just one point ahead of 7-2-2 Toronto Croatia, a Mississauga-based franchise.

But the Olympians' lead atop the standings grew considerably yesterday as Toronto Croatia had seven points taken away for using an ineligible player in three regular season games.

By losing seven points, Toronto Croatia fell into a tie for fifth place.

The St. Catharines Roma Wolves took over second place with 18 points and a 5-4-3 record.

After going undefeated in regular season play in its first year, the Olympians lost just one regular season match in each of the past two years.

So having already accumulated four losses this year is a strange feeling.

Gee was hesitant to say whether his club is as talented as it was in previous years.

"It's like hot and cold," he said. "One week we play fantastic and the next week we stink the joint out."

Proof of this up-and-down play was provided this past weekend during a pair of home games at Birchmount Stadium.

On Saturday, the Olympians had a full roster yet were edged 2-1 by the Ottawa Wizards.

The following day the Olympians had about a half dozen starters out with various injuries yet they managed to perform well and blank the Montreal Dynamites 3-0.

The Olympians' next game is Sunday on the road versus the North York Astros.

That match, which begins at 7 p.m. at Esther Shiner Stadium, is a league Cup game.

The Olympians are a perfect 3-0 in Cup play (a season-long tournament) so far this year.

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