Season 6 has been a rollercoaster for the players, staff, and fans of the FCW Lions. Last year the team made only one off-season acquisition due to the retainment of 25 of the 26 player maximum allowed on the roster. This acquisition was an 18 year old goalie from the Netherlands named Boudewijin Martha. It was an odd choice seeing as the club still had Phil Digby, who started 37 of the 38 games in each of the past three seasons. Martha became one of the most improved players in the entire world, as he improved from his original scouted rating of 50, to 59. He also managed to usurp the starting job from Digby starting in 33 of the team's 38 season games, including all exhibitions.
Still, many thought the Royal Lions would fall in the standings from the Season 5 fifth place finish, as the acquisition of a lone 18 year old goalie would not have much affect. They were wrong. The Royal Lions finished a franchise best 27-4-7 to capture their second runner-up placement in three years. They were led by veteran Trevion Collins who led World 90 in scoring with 33 goals in just 31 games. The Royal Lions finished second only to the powerhouse Boondock Saints who clinched their second championship with five games remaining in the season. Despite the champion already having been established, the last game of the season pitted the #1 Boondock Saints up against the #2 FCW Lions in a fun rivalry match. The Royal Lions came out with a 5-3 victory handing the Saints only their third loss all season.
If you think the season was already a great success let me enlighten you about the First Official World 90 Champions Tournament. The FCW Lions found themselves as a last minute replacement for a non-responsive Group A team. In the tournament of sixteen teams from all around World 90, the FCW Lions got off to a great start. They finished 3-2-1 in group play to clinch first place from Group A. In the quarterfinals they faced off against the Scottish champions, the Scorpions, winning (2-2, 3-2), to advance to the semis. In the semi-finals they went up against another Scottish team, Gibsha, and found victory again (1-1, 3-0). Next up: the finals.
The FCW Lions faced off against the #2 seed from the Netherlands, Hamlet FC. Hamlet was victorious in every game of the tournament except for two draws in group play. In the first half, the Royal Lions came out strong, taking a 3-0 lead at halftime. Two of the goals were provided by goal-scorer extraordinaire Collins, and one by his forward counterpart, Kolk. However, Hamlet came out flying in the second half, scoring three goals in fourteen minutes to tie the game 3-3. Not until Caravallo scored twice, striking first in the 70' minute, did the Royal Lions look strong again. Trevion Collins finished off his MVP season by getting the hat trick in the 90' minute of the game to lead his team to win the First Official World 90 Championship 6-3 over Hamlet.
Season 6 Results:
World 90 Canada - 27-4-7, +60, Second Place
World 90 Champions Tournament - 6-4-1, +12, Champions (6-3 Win @ Hamlet)
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE FC WINNIPEG ROYAL LIONS FOR WINNING THE SEASON 6 WORLD 90 CHAMPIONS TOURNAMENT
Still, many thought the Royal Lions would fall in the standings from the Season 5 fifth place finish, as the acquisition of a lone 18 year old goalie would not have much affect. They were wrong. The Royal Lions finished a franchise best 27-4-7 to capture their second runner-up placement in three years. They were led by veteran Trevion Collins who led World 90 in scoring with 33 goals in just 31 games. The Royal Lions finished second only to the powerhouse Boondock Saints who clinched their second championship with five games remaining in the season. Despite the champion already having been established, the last game of the season pitted the #1 Boondock Saints up against the #2 FCW Lions in a fun rivalry match. The Royal Lions came out with a 5-3 victory handing the Saints only their third loss all season.
If you think the season was already a great success let me enlighten you about the First Official World 90 Champions Tournament. The FCW Lions found themselves as a last minute replacement for a non-responsive Group A team. In the tournament of sixteen teams from all around World 90, the FCW Lions got off to a great start. They finished 3-2-1 in group play to clinch first place from Group A. In the quarterfinals they faced off against the Scottish champions, the Scorpions, winning (2-2, 3-2), to advance to the semis. In the semi-finals they went up against another Scottish team, Gibsha, and found victory again (1-1, 3-0). Next up: the finals.
The FCW Lions faced off against the #2 seed from the Netherlands, Hamlet FC. Hamlet was victorious in every game of the tournament except for two draws in group play. In the first half, the Royal Lions came out strong, taking a 3-0 lead at halftime. Two of the goals were provided by goal-scorer extraordinaire Collins, and one by his forward counterpart, Kolk. However, Hamlet came out flying in the second half, scoring three goals in fourteen minutes to tie the game 3-3. Not until Caravallo scored twice, striking first in the 70' minute, did the Royal Lions look strong again. Trevion Collins finished off his MVP season by getting the hat trick in the 90' minute of the game to lead his team to win the First Official World 90 Championship 6-3 over Hamlet.
Season 6 Results:
World 90 Canada - 27-4-7, +60, Second Place
World 90 Champions Tournament - 6-4-1, +12, Champions (6-3 Win @ Hamlet)
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE FC WINNIPEG ROYAL LIONS FOR WINNING THE SEASON 6 WORLD 90 CHAMPIONS TOURNAMENT
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