Q2-Q4: The Championship Journey

The FC Winnipeg Royal Lions are Season 10 Canadian League Champions! They began the season 19-1-0 before finally losing, and showed the type of dominant play needed to win a championship all season long . They pumped out wins week after week, but despite posting a 33-2-3 record, with a +/- of +118, clinching the title was no easy feat. Leo July, former champions, forced the Royal Lions to play dominant football each and every day finishing second, only a single point behind. Third place Boondock Saints who finished only four points behind in the standings also fought hard to challenge for the title, beating the FCW Lions 3-2 in the second last game of the season to prevent the Royal Lions from clinching the title a week early.

The dominant season came down to a final game against ninth ranked AS Forza. After easily winning the first meeting 6-1, the Royal Lions may have felt the pressure. They were played close the whole game, and the lone strike by defender Cabese in the 69th minute managed to hold up for the game winner, and championship clincher.

"It is unreal," stated Cabese. "We had confidence going into the final game against AS Forza, but they played us really well. Martha had to make some good saves early on to keep us in it. About my goal, I just ran up to the top of the box and got the ball. I was on one foot so I had to swing my leg around to get a good shot, it managed just to curve by the keeper."

Some might forget however the 33rd game of the season where the FC Winnipeg Royal Lions faced off against Leo July after tying their first match 2-2 earlier in the season. After Searcy received a red card in the 30th minute, and LJ Green took a 1-0 lead five minutes later, the FCW Lions had a large hole to climb out of, against a great team. Gelbart scored in the 71st minute to tie the game, before Lorenco won it on a goal two minutes later. The stadium erupted as the team seemed to do the impossible, and win a game which in the end, won them a championship.

Young goalkeeper Martha, who won a world championship with the FCW Lions at age 18, now has his first league championship at only age 22. He was a big factor in the championship win, conceding only twenty goals all season long. His six save clean sheet in the final game of the season was needed to win 1-0.

"This is amazing. I do not think it has really set in yet. I felt confident all game long, all season long really. This is a great team. I don't know what else to say, it's awesome," said Martha.

The top three scorers at the end of the season are:
Loic Eglisfeld - 26
Curtis Gelbart - 22
Loïc Cabese - 15

The Royal Lions leading scorer Loic Eglisfield sat out the final game due to flu like symptoms, however was celebrating as much as he could after the game. "I still feel sick symptom wise. Yet I have the best feeling in the world at the same time. I knew I had the chance to be called in, but Cabby showed why he's one of the best offensive d-men in the world when he put in that ball."

Manager Tute Fruy thanked all the players individually after the game, and stated "there is nothing to say. The players did it, and earn it, congratulations to all of them. This is simply fantastic".

Although this championship means a lot to all players, perhaps none wanted it more than team captain Trevion Collins. Although Collins was considered to be playing 'off the bench', he still made 21 appearances scoring 8 goals, and started in the final match of the season. He's played in all of the Royal Lions' eight seasons and is finally rewarded.

"This is it. This is what we play for. I've been with this team since the start, and it feels sweet. It's still a little unbelievable. I'm the captain, I am supposed to be able to find words, but right now I can't. This and the Season 6 World Championship, there is nothing that compares. There is nothing quite like when hard work pays off. What a year, and what a team to play for".

The FC Winnipeg Royal Lions smashed club records for most goals for (142), least goals conceded (24), and +/- (+ 118), and earned a championship title in dominant, and exciting fashion.

Season 10 Results:

World 90 Canada - 33-2-3, +118, Champions

Stay tuned for a Q1 article which will deliver next season's preview for the team. In the meantime, celebrate the championship! Congrats to the FC Winnipeg Royal Lions for winning the Season 10 Canadian League Championship!