MR2
Hungry Wolves Fall Short!
By: Jon Regali, Team Player
Game played July 28, 2024
It was a slow start for both teams on this hot and humid night. Most of the first 45 minutes was played in the midfield but after two costly mistakes, our Wolves fell behind 2-0 before the half. Second half was a different story and our Wolves came back with hunger netting one in and knocking on our opponents door up until the final whistle.
Unfortunately, time ran out and we were not able to capitalize on the chances we generated. The team held their heads high however confident that if they would have played with the same intensity all game, the result would have been different.
Our goal scorer, Matt Fyfe.
We thank our ‘Player of the Game’ Markel for his efforts.
WOLVES 1
FALCONS 2
MR3
Sweet Victory Followed by Celebratory Cake!
By: Omid Mirshahi, Operations Manager
Game played July 31st, 2024
Another victory for our Wolves MR3 to keep our championship hopes alive.
In the eleventh week of OCSL competition, our team faced Laca Stella Maris on their home field. Our players maintained possession of the ball throughout the game and launched many attacks. In the end, we were victorious because of these efforts. The match was played with complete calm and respect from both teams.
The players dedicated this sweet win to our head coach, Roozbeh Manesh, in celebration of his birthday! Tavallodet Mobarak Roozbeh!
Congratulations to Hassan and Ahmad for being chosen ‘Player of the Game‘ and the ‘Golden Boot‘ winner!
WOLVES 4
LACA 1
MR4
Wolves MR4 Suffer First Setback!
By: Tony Zito, Team Manager
Game played July 30, 2024
I won’t dwell on the officiating or the other team’s conduct. They were both terrible.
In this game, we didn’t play to our potential. We couldn’t get into any sort of rhythm due to the physicality of play. Our emotions took over. This is understandable when you see teammates crumpled, lying on the field after a hard tackle. We will put this setback behind us and play better like we all KNOW WE CAN and WE WILL!
Thank you to Anthony Weber and Kevin Ridgway for the post-game refreshments.
Heads held high and hobble on!
Our ‘Player of the Game’ was Joseph, who earned the honour for his consistent press on the ball and timely tying goal!
WOLVES 2
HELLENIC 3
OT1
Another Tough Loss for Wolves OT1!
By: the Editor
Game played August 2nd, 2024
Our Wolves OT1 were at their home field in Richmond to take on top 4 team AC Fiorentina Mkango. Despite some scoring prowess from our striker and ‘Player of the Game‘ Mike Popeil, our Wolves could not mount a comeback. Thank you to our Wolves MR3’s Hassan Madani and Mahdi Asadi for helping us out.
WOLVES 2
FIORENTINA 5
OT5
Humidity Doesn’t Prevail Over Team’s Humility!
By: Adam Black, Team Player
Game played August 2nd, 2024
Our OT5 Wolves squared off against rival Ottawa Hellenic on Friday, August 2nd at Ben Franklin Park. And the game, like most others on the night, was played in the sweltering mid-summer heat!
Undermanned and over-matched by numbers on the night, these Wolves were not discouraged and were more than willing to give it their very best. Backed by the triumphant return of stalwart defender, Noah “the Star” Bright, the team had reason for optimism.
As game-play progressed, there was some doubt growing amongst the fans that perhaps the heat would get the better of the team. However, after losing veteran leader, Blake “the Snake” Pope early in the second half and clinging to a 1-1 score, it was evident that there was a “never surrender” attitude flowing through the ranks! And with the final whistle, that’s exactly where the score stayed, deadlocked in a draw.
Scoring for the Wolves in this game, with a fantastic finish, was none other than “the Rocket” Roy Wilson, marking his fourth tally on the season.
By all accounts, it was the fan support (including a surprise visit from former teammate Dave “the Beast” Bryan) and their relentless cheers of “Go Wolves Go!” That helped the team power through for the hard fought tie.
And adding fuel to the fire all game long was the team’s ‘Player of the Game’, “Pistol” Pete Stewart who played a masterful game as an attacking mid-fielder.
WOLVES 1
HELLENIC 1
OT6
Back in the WIN Column!
by Team Assistant Manager, Jamie Harris
Game played August 2nd, 2024
Looking to restart their winning ways after a deflating loss last time out, the Wolves OT6 were on the road against the Almonte Lynx and featuring a short bench in the heat. Starting the game with the 11 players available, some in unfamiliar spots, the team opened the game with conviction, inspired by the energy of MR4 loanee, Chris McMahon, on defense. As bench subs arrived, the team’s regular in-game cadence started to take hold with some quality chances taken before Helio Alves was able to finally open the scoring by tucking home a low cross across the box. Despite the Wolves carrying much of the game’s possession, Almonte managed to establish a period of control late in the half that resulted in them notching a 1st half-goal of their own. Playing in defense, Marco Piacentini decided to answer back with a cracking shot from distance, that proved too much for their keeper to handle, leaving us going into the half, up 2-1.
With a quick rest and a chance to get players back into more comfortable roles and substitutions, the Wolves were able to start to assert some of the strong midfield play that has been the hallmark of some of our better performances this season. Our Wolves MR3 loanee, Mohammad Ahmadi rotated well with fellow forwards Helio Alves and Vince Wienecke, notching a 2nd half goal each while providing quality build-up play leading to a 2nd half goal from midfielder Mahdi Hemmati and a few chances lacking only a correctly applied finish from the team’s wingers. Well done everyone!
Thanks to these two individuals for their inspired play!
WOLVES 6
ALMONTE 1
MOT4
And the Academy Award Goes to…
By: Domenico Pecora, Team Keeper
Game played August 2nd 2024
As Ottawa continued to be under a heat advisory following days of above 30 degree weather and perhaps more importantly, the humidity, it was evident that Friday’s match against OC Royal Blues could and eventually would have a mental impact on the Westboro Wolves. Similar to Albert Camus’ literary recognized novella, The Stranger, whereby the main character commits homicide against an unknown man and asked why, with indifference he blamed the excess heat to have impacted his mind. Perhaps the same could be said of our match Friday evening.
With both Manager and Assistant Manager away, the responsibilities went to the Assistant- to-the-Assistant Manager, Tony Zito, whereby he proceeded to re-introduce, after a lengthy absence from the beautiful game, Wolves alumni, Rob Badger, who was greeted with applause and the hopes that with an extra leg (the other plays encased in a robotic brace) could lead the Wolves to a promotion. Tony proceeded to read-out the line-up and reminded everyone with the heat, to substitute regularly (and being mindful of a full bench), and again, no heroes. The big change in the line-up was Kevin Wirvin playing centre-back, a position he played nearly 40 years ago…could he deliver?
With the Wolves kicking-off, immediate pressure was being applied to the Royal Blues, forcing their midfield and defence back repeatedly and creating much needed opportunities until minute 5 of the match that saw Jefferson ‘Airplane’ Daughtery take-off on a run and a quick release to open the scoring. Unfortunately, the lead only lasted a couple of minutes when the Royal Blues tied the match with a run down the left side of the pitch and a well positioned low strike into the right corner of the net. However, that was as close as the Royal Blues would get until late into the match.
As the game progressed, the heat was playing mind games on many as we struggled to complete passes, or run back, or apply much needed pressure on the Royal Blues to force a turnover. However, moments of brilliance would come-out and shine with another goal. Followed by another strike by ‘Il Professore’ (aka Mark Freel) who returned to our line-up, after being sidelined for a number of weeks due to injury, his beautiful goal saw him breakdown the Royal Blues’ defensive line.
The frustration of the first half was noted and Tony Zito’s impassioned halftime reminder of supporting teammates on and off the ball and to create space was heard loud and clear. With the exception of couple of guys who were giggling in the background like school
children trading hockey cards. We haven’t heard from them since! 
With the Tony’s speech in mind the Wolves ran out onto the pitch and our play improved, albeit mildly as the humidity was making things uncomfortable, most notably, being forced to see your teammates teats through the sweat-drenched polyester kits. However, in the 63rd minute of the match, perhaps out of frustration at seeing the opposing attacker’s inability to draw a foul in the box for a penalty shot or the affects of the heat, Kevin W. would drop and roll four times to show how to earn a foul and a foul he earned with his own yellow card. Both sides were left jaw-dropped at his Academy Award winning performance. Bravo Kevin…don’t do it again!
Even the Moe Fakih and Alonso Gartner tandem wasn’t clicking much like the Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez’s relationship, but fortunately after the match, they shared a beverage and a laugh, while Ben and Jen have moved out of their home into separate places.
After 90 minutes of play that witnessed some odd behaviours on both sides but perhaps a bit more acting than usual, the Westboro Wolves managed to squeeze out another victory.
We now lead our division by a slim margin with a 2nd leg match against the Rockers, who sit just behind us in the standings.
A big thank you to Jefferson for his assortment of beverages, above all those Italian beverages that were greatly appreciated and to Rob for making sure to change the batteries in his ‘robotic’ apparatus!
‘Player of the Game’
to Roberto Smilovich. His 2nd time honour, he managed the backline
with discipline (also noting that Domenic Mafrici was on the sideline taking calls
with his Broker to sell-off
all his Tesla shares) and level-headedness in an evening that was
somewhat uncomfortable. Roberto initially donned the ‘Man of the Match’
belt upside down to remind everyone that he’s actually the ‘Macho Man’
and not ‘Westboro Wolves’. Funny guy until the
end.
WOLVES 4
OTTAWA CITY ROYALS 3
Enjoy the rest of the week.
FORZA WOLVES!
