The Electric City FC Men’s side wrapped up their inaugural season with a 0-0 draw against St. Catharines Roma Wolves at Fleming College on Saturday.
The team finished 10th in the league with an 8-7-6 record but failed to qualify for the playoffs. After registering a 3rd consecutive home draw. ECFC had rung off five consecutive home wins but went 0-1-4 in their last five home games.
ECFC controlled play and had the lion's share of chances but could not convert against St. Catharine’s goalkeeper Carson Provenzano.
ECFC defender Ben Vyfschaft said despite not making playoffs, there are many positives throughout the season.
“Obviously there was a lot of games where we did not get the result we wanted to,” he said. “I think we all know on the team that we play really well together. We just kind of had this roadblock of just finishing out games and closing out those three points, which really was the big reason why we did not get to be a part of that playoff push.”
Fellow Defender Zach Ellis-Hayden said the team could have gone farther with the team they had.
“It is a tough one to look back on,” he explained. “On the pitch I think we struggled at times to figure out how to click and so some results did not go our way. We had good moments but overall I think we have a great team of great players who hoped for and deserved a bit more.”
ECFC Head Coach Randy Ribeiro remarked on the opportunity to work with a group of great individuals each day throughout the season.
“I could not be more thankful to have had the opportunity to work with not only top players, but top people,” he said. “Guys that are aspiring to play at highest level they possibly can, showing up every day with good training habits. It made my job so difficult picking teams week to week but that is the best environment to be in as a coach.”
Things were not easy during their inaugural season but Ribeiro believes next year will be easier now that a platform has been made.
“The nice thing is that there is a foundation, we have got legs to stand on. There is something to build on here which I am really excited for and building something from the ground up is never easy and so I am so thankful to have that opportunity to be a part of Electric City in its inaugural year.”
Vyfschaft said that if the group stays together, they could be dangerous next season.
“It is our first season, I think we can build off of it and if we kind of work out those kinks and come back as the same group, I am positive that we can overcome that and have a strong season next year,” he said.