OLYMPIANS ELIMINATE A GALLANT HAMILTON THUNDER 3-2 TO ADVANCE IN ROGERS CUP PLAYOFFS
The first half pace was noticeably quick as a young, lively Hamilton squad created several good chances and eventually Jaso Crnic and Miles O'Connor put Thunder ahead by a 2-0 score and this held to the interval. Olympians pressed hard in the second half and Darren Tilley scored from the penalty spot to make it 2-1 after Hamilton's Ricardo Marquez handled a dangerous high ball just outside the six yard box. Hayden Fitzwilliams tied the score for Olympians--a 2-2 result after 90 minutes.
David Di Placido scored the winner for Olympians with three minutes remaining in sudden-death overtime and just when the game appeared to be heading into penalty kicks to decide the team to advance to the quarter-finals. Mississauga Olympians will now meet North York Astros in the Wild Card quarter-final game to be played as the first game of the Rogers Cup playoff weekend, an 8.05 p.m. kickoff on Friday, October 18. The winner of the Wild Card game moves to the semi-final to meet Western Conference winner Toronto Croatia the following day at 4.05 p.m. This game follows the Eastern semi-final which starts at 2.05 p.m. The Rogers Cup Final goes the following day, Sunday, October 20 at 2.05 p.m. All four games are at Esther Shiner Stadium in North York.
Hamilton Thunder is eliminated from the Rogers Cup playoffs and has one game remaining in its inaugural season--against Brampton Hitmen on October 10. Hamilton will finish a respectable third in the Western Conference.
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