December 22, 2021...2021 L1O Men's Premier Divisionk Awards: Guelph sweeps West; Phillip & Kotsopoulos take MVP
(from League1 Ontario website)
2021 L1O Men's Premier Division Awards: Guelph sweeps West; Phillip & Kotsopoulos take MVP
By Marty Thompson, 12/22/21, 10:00AM EST
The 2021 L1O Men’s Premier Division Awards are here!
As voted by their peers, these six individual awards – split between East Conference and West Conference,
and the yearly East and West best XIs see the L1O’s best recognized for their efforts during
a condensed 2021 campaign.
MVP: JACE KOTSOPOULOS - GUELPH UNITED
It’s hard to see even a team like Guelph United – worthy winners of the 2021 L1O Championship
– hit the heights they did without their star striker Jace Kotsopoulos: 18 goals in 14 matches,
three hattricks, and three goals in the playoffs – including a clutch brace in the final vs.
Blue Devils FC. The former CPL attacker was nothing short of brilliant in attack and it’s been
well rewarded.
MVP: RESHON PHILLIP - MASTER'S FA
Phillip bet on himself in 2021 and it paid off in a major way. Starting the season with Blue Devils,
the 22-year-old former Toronto FC II forward swapped blue for Masters FA red and never looked back,
scoring 13 goals in 10 matches – including twice against eventual champions Guelph United
in the playoffs – in a blistering two-month run.
WEST COACH OF THE YEAR: JUSTIN SPRINGER & KEITH MASON - GUELPH UNITED
Guelph United’s pair of University of Guelph legends made an exceptional managerial unit in 2021
– starting with the expansion club’s opening six-match win streak that ended with a +23 goal
differential. They managed momentum, and some crucial injuries, right up to the L1O Final where
their side looked comfortable throughout, capturing the title with relative ease in a 3-1 win.
EAST COACH OF THE YEAR: PATRICE GHEISAR - VAUGHAN AZZURRI
Gheisar’s season at the helm of Vaughan Azzurri was simply brilliant – even with the stumble
in the playoffs. Vaughan ended the regular season with an undefeated record of 11-0-1 while posting
a league-best +30 goal differential and 11 goals conceded. Worthy champions of the regular season.
GOLDEN GLOVE: SVYATOSLAV ARTEMENKO - GUELPH UNITED (WEST)
Guelph’s number one ‘keeper held firm right up to the 2021 L1O Championship, posting a league-best
five clean sheets on the way. The Winnipeg native was especially clutch in the semi-final round
against Masters FA where he scored and saved the all-keeper final round to send his side to the final.
GOLDEN GLOVE: QUILLAN ROBERTS - 1812 FC (EAST)
The former Toronto FC and Forge FC backstop thrived with the expansion 1812 FC side, starting all
12 matches and coming up with many massive saves along the way.
TOP DEFENDER: AMARDO OAKLEY - GUELPH UNITED (WEST)
Oakley was a crucial right fullback for Guelph throughout the season as he racked up an impressive
1215 minutes – bested in L1O only by MVP teammate Kotsopoulos. The rangy wingback delivered some
killer balls and proved difficult to beat both on the overlap and going backwards.
TOP DEFENDER: TERRELL SPENCER - MASTER'S FA (EAST)
Spencer was ever-present for Masters up the left side of the defence, starting every match – including
their CanChamp game against York United – a sturdy defender with a solid delivery and attacking nohow,
leading to a respectable two goals.
TOP MIDFIELDER: ALEX ZIS - GUELPH UNITED (WEST)
What could have been for Guelph United if their star attacking midfielder avoided injury late in the
season. The former CPL-U SPORTS Draft pick has posted an astounding eight goals in eight games
in September – a run rivalling the team’s other star high-powered attackers in Tomasz Skublak
and Kotsopoulos – before he was sidelined with an injury.
TOP MIDFIELDER: FRANCIS AMEYAW - MASTER'S FA (EAST)
Masters’ tricky attacker was potent as ever, mixing physicality, speed, and vision to take over matches
at times. The 22-year-old was recognized by his peers for exactly that – taking a worthy nod from
the East and a spot in the Best XI...
All-Star Teams: 2021 L1O Men's Premier Division
2021 L1O Men's Premier Division Western Conference All-Stars
Goalkeeper
Svyatoslav Artemenko - Guelph United
Defenders
Amardo Oakley - Guelph United
Adam Czerkawski - Blue Devils FC
Bradley Heath - FC London
Kyle Walton - Sigma FC
Midfielders
Brandon Duarte - Blue Devils FC
Alex Zis - Guelph United
Dion Stergiotis - Guelph United
Forwards
Jace Kotsopolous - Guelph United
Tomasz Skublak - Guelph United
Ethan Gopaul - FC London
2021 L1O Men's Premier Division Eastern Conference All-Stars
Goalkeeper
Quillan Roberts - 1812 FC
Defenders
Terrell Spencer - Master's FA
Reggie Laryea - Vaughan Azzurri
Keegan Wilson - Woodbridge Strikers
Jarred Philips - Vaughan Azzurri
Midfielders
Francis Ameyaw - Master's FA
Raheem Rose - Vaughan Azzurri
Dante Pavan - Woodbridge Strikers
Forwards
Ali El-Zeir - 1812 FC
Reshon Phillip - Master's FA
Shaq Agard - Master's FA
back to 2021 League 1 Ontario Men's index
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