Double-header in Darby

The weekend begins with two matches at 8pm ET on Friday as Darby host opponents from both divisions. Unionville Milliken against Darby is our game in the Women’s Premier Division at South Courtice Turf with both sides looking to get their first points of the season.

In the Men’s Premier Division, Scrosoppi make the journey to Whitby Soccer Centre Dome to face a Darby side who have won their first two matches of the campaign. Darby were also 4-0 winners the last time the teams met in August.

Clubs look to build momentum

At this early stage of the season sides are looking to build momentum and in our five L1O matches on Saturday, half the teams in action have a win to their name.

Electric City and North Toronto Nitros kick off the day’s action in the Women’s Premier Division. After their impressive 5-0 win last time out, the North Toronto side will be a tough test for Electric City. The visitors however did keep a clean sheet in their first match and will need a strong defensive performance once again.

Last season’s runners-up Alliance United could only manage a tie in their first game this year as they played out a six-goal thriller with Woodbridge Strikers. They have home advantage on Saturday but face a potentially dangerous FC London side who scored three first-half goals to take the points in their last match.

Elsewhere, Guelph Union and ProStars face one another as they look for their first points of the season; both teams struggled in their first match and conceded five goals.

In the Men’s Premier Division, Master’s FA will hope to cause an upset against Blue Devils and get their first win of 2023. The Oakville side were 7-1 winners in this fixture last year and showed why they were one of the top teams in the division.

Later that day, high-scoring Sigma travel to an undefeated Unionville Milliken who have won one and tied one in their opening two games this season. Sigma’s Kevaughn Tavernier and Emery Welshman are the ones to watch in this game – both already have hat-tricks this season.

Eight Sunday matches

We’ve got a busy day on Sunday as eight teams take to the pitch from each division. Blue Devils get their season up and running in the Women’s Premier Division having had a bye in Week One and face North Mississauga, who beat ProStars 5-3 in their first game.

St Catharines Roma Wolves will be looking to move themselves from the foot of the table as they travel to Vaughan Azzurri. The away side have had difficult start to 2023, losing their opening two matches – the latest being a 4-1 defeat to BVB IA Waterloo on Wednesday. The same can’t be said about the Azzurri who have won their last six L1O regular-season matches across 2022 and 2023.

In the other two women’s games of the weekend, Tecumseh play Woodbridge Strikers and BVB IA Waterloo face Burlington; Taylor Schell is one to watch for Waterloo after scoring two goals midweek. Meanwhile, their men’s side host Alliance United. This was a close match last season’s Men’s Premier Division with Alliance needing a second-half winner for a 2-1 victory.

Current Men’s Premier Division pacesetters Simcoe County Rovers face Woodbridge Strikers as the team hunt for their third win on the bounce. With Simcoe having scored nine goals in their first two games, it will be a tough task for Woodbridge to keep a clean sheet and cause an upset.

Burlington are yet to concede a goal in the division, one of only two teams with that record – the other being Alliance United. The Bayhawks host Electric City on Sunday and will be confident having won their first two matches, but Electric City are no pushover; they lost their first game of the new season but bounced back with a statement 2-0 win over North Toronto Nitros last weekend.

Sunday’s final game sees St Catharines Roma Wolves face Windsor City. The new-look Windsor are aiming for their first points of 2023 while the Roma Wolves could make it three games unbeaten.

Midweek action

Hamilton United men’s side gained their first point of the season against unlikely opponents on Wednesday, forcing the reigning champions Vaughan Azzurri to a goalless tie. Hamilton’s women’s team also faced Premier Division title holders NDC Ontario, who edged out a 1-0 victory.

Guelph United then banked their first win in 2023 on Thursday against FC London.

The gameweek doesn’t finish on Sunday, with the North Mississauga women’s team traveling to Electric City on Tuesday before the men’s team host North Toronto.