October 1, 2005 CPSL details of Saturday's games (from CPSL website)
SHOOTERS WIN EASTERN CONFERENCE
Saturday - October 1, 2005
Two goals by attacking midfielder Mathew Palleschi, one in each half, was enough to give his team a 2-1 victory and put an end to the season-long battle for the Canadian Professional Soccer League Eastern Conference title, won Friday night by Vaughan Shooters over Toronto Croatia in an entertaining, physical contest at The Soccer Centre.
The increasingly popular York Region team, known for its attractive, fast-paced style, will probably produce more wins, points and goals in regular league competition than any other team in the 12-team loop when this 2005 campaign is over.
The conference title win fufils a promise to Shooters' fans that the near-misses experienced by the team in its bid for various honours in the past two years, will come to an end and Vaughan will now make its all-out bid for the CPSL Championship next weekend. Shooters finished third in the Eastern Conference standings last season and lost the 2004 CPSL Championship in the final game to Friday's opposition, Toronto Croatia.
Palleschi struck early in Friday's encounter with a goal after just three minutes and Toronto Croatia came back to tie the score 1-1 on a goal by Antonijo Zupan at the 20th minute mark. Following a tough contest for the remainder of the first half and 22 minutes into the second half, the 22 year-old Palleschi, a standout Humber College midfielder who is equally effective as a striker, scored the important winner.
Vaughan Shooters now have a 15-3-3 WLT record for 48 points and have one regular season game remaining, against Laval Dynamites this Sunday. They will then move to the semi-finals of the CPSL Championship at Esther Shiner Stadium on Saturday, October 8, the opposition yet to be determined.
Toronto Croatia have a 12-3-6 record for 42 points following Friday's game and they also have one game remaining before entering the playoffs. They will meet Laval Dynamites or Toronto Supra in a one-game elimination next week, the winner to meet North York Astros in a wild card game on Friday, October 7.
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