The Orangeville Athletics indoor team, sponsored by Allto Construction, capped off the winter indoor session with a dramatic 4-2 championship victory over the Brampton Tiger-Uppercuts.

The Athletics continued there success from the fall session posting a league leading 10 wins and 2 losses (30 pts) in the winter indoor session crowning them league winners.

The ultimate goal however was to complete the league double and win the playoff championship as well.

The Athletics knew it would be difficult with the leagues top 4 teams all very closely matched up.

The semi-final match would be played against the Heart Lake Azzuri.

It was the Azzuri who came out flying and notched an early goal to take the lead into the half 1-0.

The Athletics did not panic and stuck to the game plan.

The Athletics had found success this year from using there full bench to achieve a high tempo pressure attack. That being complemented by the leagues best defense quarterbacked by goalkeeper Peter Simms, who allowed only 20 goals in 14 games to lead the league in that department.

The Athletics came out in the second half determined to regain control of the match.

Although they controlled the majority of the play, the Azzuri still held on to there slim lead. However, with two minutes to play Bart Babij struck a beautiful half volley past the Azzuri goalkeeper sending the game into penalty kicks.

The penalty kicks went back and forth with each team having opportunities to decide the stalemate. After the first five kickers, it went to sudden death.

The sudden death ended up going to the Athletics 11th kicker, where BJ Shipway stepped up with the game on the line and put the Athletics through to the final.

The championship match would see the Athletics and there season long closest rivals, The Tiger Upper-cuts, play for the league honours.

Both of these teams had developed a great deal of respect for each other as each game they played each other, the outcomes were usually decided by a late goal either way.

It was the Athletics who would get on the scoreboard first when Peter Kirchberger hit a long free kick that deflected off the Uppercuts goalkeeper and into the net.

The Upper-cuts responded quickly when they were awarded a penalty shot.

Simms went the right way on the ensuing penalty kick but just missed the neatly taken penalty. The action was fast and furious with Simms making a number of key saves to keep the game tied 1-1 at the half.

The second half started off poorly for the Athletics as a miscommunication between the rock solid defense led to the Upper-cuts taking the lead with 13 minutes to play in the game.

The Athletics remained composed and really poured the pressure on the Upper-cuts defense. The Athletics were rewarded for there feisty play when they were given a free kick 20 yards out from goal with six minutes to play.

Again it was Kirchberger who stepped up and hammered the free kick into the Uppercuts net.

The momentum shifted right back to the Athletics and they continued to attack the Upper-cuts defense. With four minutes to play, the teams leading scorer, Gavin Hill, took a beautiful through ball on the bounce and buried it past the Upper-cuts goalie.

The Athletics were not finished yet, with two minutes to play in the game Kirchberger completed his hat-trick with another successfully taken free kick.

It was the perfect conclusion to a very successful indoor season for the Athletics.

Hopefully this success with continue to the outdoor season where both teams, the Athletics (Premier) and United (First Division), look to make there mark in the York Region Soccer League.

The Orangeville United, sponsored by Shoeless Joe's, will start there season at home on Tuesday May 19th at Rotary Park (8:45 kickoff) against the Barrie Spirit.

The Orangeville Athletics, sponsored by Allto Construction, will start there season on Thursday May 21st at Rotary Park (8:30 kickoff) against The Aurora Hearts.