Sentinels cap inaugural OPL season with promotion to League2

The men's team defeated Railway City FC on Sunday in the promotions match.

The Kingston Sentinels men's soccer team had to take the scenic route to land a spot in Ontario Premier League 2.

The men lost to Borough FC in the semi-final match of OPL3 where they endured a 10-round penalty shootout after finishing the match at 2-2 after regulation and extra time.

The playoff match on July 13 in Scarborough was suspended because of rain.

Sentinels head coach Christian Hoefler says both clubs went to Vaughan on August 1 to settle the match with the winner going to face Woodbridge Strikers B for the League 3 title later that day.

Woodbridge would defeat Borough FC 2-0 in the championship match. 

But according to league rules, if the winning team does not accept the promotion to League 2, it will go to the runner up. If the runner up turns down the promotion, another match will take place to determine who advances.

The Sentinels took on Railway City FC at CaraCo Field on Sunday and won 3-1 in extra time giving them the promotion.

Hoefler says the players played their hearts out in front of their home crowd.

With the promotion to League 2, there are a whole new set of teams and players that they will face in the upcoming OPL season. 

Hoefler says it will be a challenge for them next season.

He says there also some rules set for rosters where each club needs to allocate a certain amount of playing time for players under the age of 23 and under the age of 18.

Hoefler says fans in Kingston will be able to see the high calibre of talent as well as team from across Ontario in OPL2.

Story by Ken Hashizume