Playoff hopes for FC Women? Men on a roll; Majors turning corner

Gameday in 5: A look to the week ahead — and a recap of the week that was (July 3-9) — for London’s teams and athletes.

(Photo: Martin Bazyl / League1 Ontario).

* * *

London Majors

The Majors continued their recent winning ways last weekend, as they took the two games they managed to get in (with a third, Saturday’s scheduled game in Guelph, being rained out). With the wins (2-1 against Kitchener and 4-1 against Guelph) , London (now 8-12) moved ahead of the Royals (7-14) for sixth place in the standings as the team continues to try and climb out of an early hole.

Edisson Gonzalez got things started on the right foot Friday night, turning in easily his best outing thus far in a Majors uniform. The right-hander held the Kitchener Panthers hitless for five innings, allowing just a walk and an unearned run (partly the result of a London error). He struck out four in the outing. Trailing 1-0 in the sixth, the Majors tied things up in their half of the frame. Following singles by Myles Miller and Cleveland Brownlee, first baseman Josh Williams notched a one-out RBI single to score Miller and tie the contest.

Lefty Alex Springer, a junior call-up, took over from there. He turned in four scoreless innings in relief of Gonzalez, striking out three along the way. He allowed just three hits and didn’t walk a batter. That allowed the Majors to manufacture the game’s winning run in the ninth. A one-out single by Keith Kandel got things started. Brett Graham also singled, and then Drew Lawrence reached to load the bases, still with one out. Myles Miller then grounded a ball to first for a fielder’s choice. The throw home by Kitchener’s first baseman was in the dirt, and Kandel crossed the plate for the walk-off winning run.

After Saturday’s scheduled game in Guelph was postponed due to the rainy weather, the Majors welcomed the Royals to Labatt Park for the second half of the scheduled home-and-home series Sunday. Behind their ace starting pitcher, Owen Boon, London won 4-1, giving them four wins in their last five games.

Boon turned in a 119-pitch outing, allowing just one run over eight innings in the win. He scattered six hits and walked a pair of batters while striking out 11. The Majors got on the board first, scoring three times in the bottom of the second. Starling Joseph singled, stole second, and scored on a Tommy Reyes-Cruz single. After Austin Wilkie singled and London recorded its second out, Keith Kandel knocked home a run with a hit. A wild pitch scored another.

The Majors added an insurance run in the sixth inning. Boon allowed a run in the seventh but the Royals at bay until passing things off to Braeden Ferrington, who closed things out and earned the save.

Up next:

The Majors, winners of four of their last five, will look to keep the good times rolling this weekend (after their scheduled contest Tuesday was rained out). They’ll host Hamilton Friday and hit the road Saturday.

Tues. July 11 (7:35pm vs. Welland Jackfish) ** rained out
Fri. July 14 (7:35pm vs. Hamilton Cardinals)
Sat. July 15 (4:05pm @ Barrie Baycats)

FC London

Facing close to a must-win situation, the FC London women did just that, taking both of their matches last week — first, a 2-0 win over Burlington SC, and then a 4-1 win over ProStars FC.

The women kicked things off last Wednesday on the road. A goal by Charlotte Cromack in the 40th minute put FC London ahead 1-0. After halftime, in the 59th minute, Robyn Scott found the back of the net to extend the lead to 2-0. That’s all they would need, as goalkeeper Cassidy Joslin earned a clean sheet.

On Sunday, again on the road, the women earned a more convincing win, 4-1, over ProStars FC. Captain Julia Benati opened the scoring in the 37th minute. In the second half, FC London scored three times in the span of 18 minutes. Cromack accounted for two of those goals, while Scott added another.

The win improved FC London’s record to 6-4-3, putting them in striking distance of the playoffs. They’ll head into action Wednesday tied for eighth place, just two points out of sixth (the top six teams make the playoffs).

The men also had a highly successful week. They, too, won both of their matches — first, a 3-0 decision at home against BVB IA Waterloo last Wednesday, and then a 3-2 contest against Burlington SC on the road Sunday.

It was all FC London Wednesday in their blanking of their Waterloo counterparts. A goal by Esosa Emovon in the 8th minute got things started. In the second half, Lewis Dye and Kuhle Bekwayo added insurance goals. Darlington Murasiranwa earned the shutout in net.

FC London then earned points in their fourth straight Sunday with a one-goal win over Burlington SC on the road. After a scoreless first half, it was Esosa Emovon who once again got the scoring started. He scored in the 49th minute. Santiago Fonseca made it 2-0 in the 60th minute, but a pair of quick goals by Burlington’s Augustus Oku tied the score. Fonseca then scored a late one, in the 86th minute, that won the game for FC London.

Up next:

It’s another busy two-game week for the women’s squad (6-4-3), who have played themselves into the playoff picture but have little margin for error. A tough one against North Toronto on Wednesday is the week’s first challenge. The Men (3-6-4), meanwhile, will try to continue their strong recent play with a road game Saturday.

Women:
Wed. July 12 (8:00pm vs. North Toronto Nitros)
Sun. July 16 (1:00pm @ Blue Devils FC)

Men:
Sat. July 15 (2:00pm @ Master’s FA)