Lions prepare for new-look OCAA fall seasons

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The Ontario Colleges Athletic Association has officially announced the return of fall sports.

All sports were cancelled in the 2020-21 school year because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Lions prepare for new-look OCAA fall seasons Back to video

The OCAA said Thursday that divisional realignment and shortened schedules have been approved for the 2021-22 fall varsity seasons.

Lambton College offers three fall varsity teams: men’s and women’s soccer, and baseball.

The Lions don’t participate in the other OCAA fall sports: men’s rugby, women’s rugby sevens, women’s softball, golf and cross-country.

The OCAA has reduced travel and overnight stays this coming season with an eye on players’ health and safety.

The league and tournament structures, as well as the playoff and championship formats, were also adjusted to meet public health orders and the return-to-play regulations of each sport’s provincial governing body.

Schedules have fewer games because of schools’ budget and operational constraints, the OCAA said in a news release.

The fall schedules will be released next week. The formats and schedules for winter sports will be announced later this summer.

Men’s and women’s soccer teams will be divided into four regional pools with four teams apiece. Each team will play six regular-season games. Twelve teams will make the playoffs.

Lambton is in a division with Conestoga, Fanshawe and St. Clair.

In baseball, the eight teams will be divided into East and West divisions. Lambton is in a division with Fanshawe, Humber and St. Clair.

Teams will play double round-robin doubleheaders for a total of 14 regular-season games apiece. The top three teams from each division make the playoffs.