In the opening week of the 2026 season, just over seven months ago, Scrosoppi were away at St. Catharines in the Men’s OPL 1 division with a squad stacked with new faces and buzzing talent.

Yet it was a familiar name that was first on the scoresheet as 2025 L1 Cup Final hero Luka Juricic put SFC ahead before half-time. Former Canadian Premier League forward Lowell Wright then secured the points with a late goal – his first in Scrosoppi colours and in the OPL.

Two goals. Clean sheet. Job done. 

Fast forward to Scrosoppi's last game of the season on Friday, August 21: same opponents, same result. But what once was a group of soccer players in a black, white, and gold jersey was now a strong unit that finished top of the standings.

“Winning the OPL title is something we are incredibly proud of,” said Patrice Gheisar, the club's Director of Football Operations and men's head coach. “But what makes this season special goes far beyond the trophy.

“We started the season with a brand-new group, with only one returning player from the previous season. That meant we had to build everything from the ground up: relationships, trust, standards, identity and, ultimately, a team. 

“It wasn’t always easy. There were highs and there were lows. There were moments when things didn’t go our way and periods where we had to look ourselves in the mirror and find another level. 

“But that is where this group really showed its character. We stayed together. We continued to work. We continued to believe in one another.”

After back-to-back wins in April, the start of May proved to be a stumbling block for Scrosoppi as they fell to a 5-1 defeat against reigning champions Woodbridge Strikers and lost on penalties to Cambridge United in the cup.

The players bounced back to become one of the early favourites for the league title, and even when SFC claimed just three points from a possible 12 around the mid-point of the season it only added fuel to their fire.

“When it mattered most, we found our rhythm,” Gheisar continued. 

“Winning the last eight games was impressive as it came off the back of a loss against Sudbury, and the players felt the championship could be gone. 

“In the following game, the group managed to beat the first-place team [Woodbridge] even after receiving a red card, and this is where our belief and character started to form at a higher level.

“The most rewarding part for me as a coach is seeing how far this group came. A team that barely knew each other at the beginning of the season became a group that trusted each other, fought for each other, and understood what it meant to represent the club. 

“That is what building a team is about. I’m proud of the players, proud of the staff, proud of the standards we established together. The trophy belongs to everyone who contributed to this journey and the entire club who supported this team.

“We had targets on the field, which was winning a championship, but more importantly, we wanted to form a culture which will last forever. 

“We wanted a team which our members would be proud of, and a place players could call home.”