Men’s World Cup ending, but plenty of quality area competitive adult soccer remains

Woodstock’s Mitch Burns (right) hits the deck during a collision with a Jagiellonia London opponent. (Jeff Tribe Photo)

Jeff Tribe, Echo Correspondent

As of press time, the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup was down to two games, Argentina and England, the winner advancing to face a Spain squad which dismantled France in their semi-final.

The global event has brought men’s soccer to the forefront in Canada as never before, boosted by a historic performance from our own national team, exiting with courage and honour - and without political intervention - against Morocco. Oxford County fans looking to keep their soccer fix going past Sunday’s World Cup championship game need look no further than ten area teams, each with far more local representation, each playing competitive games for an admission fee represented by simply driving to the park, rather than missing a mortgage payment.

Following, backdropped by photos from Woodstock’s 2-0 Premier Cup victory over Jagiellonia London Saturday, July 11 at Cowan Park, is a quick rundown of Woodstock and Ingersoll’s Western Ontario Soccer League (WOSL) entries, its Woodstock London and Area Women’s Soccer League team and four Middlesex Masters Soccer League squads, along with a schedule of their home games for the duration of the regular season.

WOSL Premier Division

Woodstock sits in second place with a 5-0-1 won-lost-tied record, good for 15 points, seven behind Jagiellonia, which has played two more games.

As mentioned, Woodstock opened Premier Cup with a 2-0 win over the league leaders, fuelled offensively by goals from Keaghan Brett and Payton Krienselokker, and supported by a clean sheet courtesy of keeper Alex May.

Krienselokker is tied for second in regular season scoring, tallying seven goals.

WOSL First Division

Woodstock FC B has earned two draws in six outings and is looking to improve on that record in the season’s second half.

WOSL Second Division

Woodstock FC C has picked up ties in two of its seven outings. Kristian Spina leads his squad offensively with four regular-season goals.

WOSL Third Division East

The Ingersoll Flyers stand atop their divisional standings, boasting five wins and two ties in seven games, good for 17 points. The Flyers have scored 31 goals and allowed just seven and are two points ahead of the second-place German Canadian FC B team.

Ingersoll has three players in the league’s top ten, paced by Brayden Grills at the top of the list with eight goals. Teammates Ethan Poole and Jean Ariza Correa have three apiece.

London and Area Women’s Soccer League First Division

Woodstock has achieved one victory and two ties in seven outings, currently standing tied with London Dinamo FC. Emily Fuller has scored eight of her team’s 11 goals, sitting in second place in the division’s top ten scoring race.

Middlesex Masters Division I

Woodstock A sits atop the standings, three points up on Jagiellonia A (22-19) with an undefeated 7-1-0 record featuring 46 goals for and just 10 against.

Iain Hume has pumped home a league-leading 18 goals for Woodstock, with Damion Vassell adding 10.

Middlesex Masters Division III

Woodstock B has an undefeated 6-1-0 record and a first-place tie with London Irish A (6-1-10 with 19 each, although Woodstock has a game in hand. Ingersoll is in a solid third with a 4-1-2 mark, 19 goals for, 16 against and 13 points.

The two teams close out their regular season against each other Thursday, September 10th on Woodstock’s Cowan Guarantee field.

Woodstock’s Dan Widmer and Piotr Olejniczak sit first and third in league scoring with 10 and six goals respectively, with Ingersoll’s Dave Kerfoot (9) and Demetri Makris (4) checking in at second and joint sixth.

Middlesex Masters Division 4

Woodstock’s 9-0-0 record, 75 goals for and just five against, gives them a five-point lead on second-place Strathroy United (22 points).

Woodstock C’s Kamil Gondek (20) and Mark Steeds lead league scoring with 20 and 17 goals respectively, while Justin Ryksen checks in at joint ninth with six.

Middlesex Masters Over 45 Division II

Woodstock is one point back of first-place London Croatia with a 5-1-1 record, 19 goals for and 14 against.