Paris FC U15 Boys cap off dream season with triple cup victory

Back Row L to R): Nicolas Botero, Joseph Lama, Ethan Dmetriuc, AJ Abdelgadir, Isaiah Dinola, Michael Zaprzala, Damian Wegrzyn, Noah Esposito, Logan Longheart, Peter Polillo (Coach). Front Row: Nadine Dmetriuc (Manager), Hudson DaSilva, Tarun Anandan, Will Aird, Louis Czikk, Brody Prosser, Lucas Buck. Missing: Diego Cruces, Noah Correggia, Bruno Squeo (Assistant Coach). (Josh Lightheart photos)

Casandra Turnbull

Managing Editor 

The Paris FC U15 Boys soccer squad has wrapped up a dream season, capturing not one, not two, but three major titles in 2025, marking a stunning rise for the club from “worst to first.”

Coached by longtime mentor Peter Polillo, with assistant coach Bruno Squeo and manager Nadine Dmetruic, the boys captured the Tiamo Cup, the Heart of Caledon Tournament, and the prestigious Hamilton-Niagara Soccer League Cup, cementing their status as one of the most exciting young teams in the region.

Breaking Through at the Tiamo Cup

The journey began in July at the Tiamo Cup in St. Catharines. After a hard-fought opening win over league rivals Hamilton Croatia — a club that had defeated Paris in league play just weeks earlier — Paris gained momentum with draws against Peterborough SCA and Roma Wolves. Finishing first in their group, Paris met Hamilton Croatia again in the finals.

This time, the boys rose to the occasion. Keeper Louis Czikk turned aside wave after wave of late attacks to preserve a 1-0 shutout and secure the trophy, earning Player of the Match honours.

“The lads played hard, controlled the match, and finished with the three points,” said proud parent Michael Czikk, whose son Louis stood tall in net.

Heart of Caledon Triumph

A month later, Paris proved their Tiamo Cup win was no fluke. Competing in a larger field at the Heart of Caledon Tournament, the boys stormed through group play with a commanding 8-0 win over Georgetown, followed by two tight draws against Kitchener and Puslinch.

After edging SSE90 of Caledon 1-0 in the semis, Paris faced Oakville’s Storm in the final. The boys struck early, building a 2-0 lead, and then sealed the championship with two late goals in a 4-1 victory.

League Cup Drama

Their crowning achievement came in the summer-long Hamilton-Niagara League Cup, a knockout-style tournament featuring 14 teams from across the region. Paris rolled through East Hamilton and Pelham, before once again eliminating Hamilton Croatia in a gritty 2-1 semifinal win.

That set up a final showdown with Brantford, a match filled with drama. Paris took an early 2-0 lead, but questionable calls helped Brantford claw back to tie and then take a 3-2 advantage. With time running out, Paris earned a free kick just outside the box. Nico Bortela buried it, forcing penalties.

In the shootout, Paris’ keeper came up with the only save of the contest, clinching the championship and sending his teammates — and supporters — into jubilation.

Coach’s Perspective

For Coach Polillo, who has been with the squad since 2020, the season’s success was the result of years of building a culture based on development, discipline and unity.

“Our focus this season has been teamwork. Communication, in the sense that all players are aware, at any given moment of the game, of our team intentions and what we as a collective are trying to accomplish,” said Polillo. “We can accomplish more as a collective rather than a group of individuals playing against another group of individuals.”

He reflected on the program’s evolution from struggling in its early years to attracting top players through strong training and competition. “It was my intention to ‘build a better mouse trap,’ and in doing so, attract better players to bolster our squad,” he said.

But Polillo said the true reward came from watching the boys grow as people. “In retrospect, working with this group of young men has brought me a great deal of joy. I’m most proud of who they are as people and that I have had the good fortune to be a part of their development as good people.”

The coach also praised the “phenomenal” support of parents and sponsors, and the tireless work of assistant coach Squeo and manager Dmetruic.

“It is with very fond memories of the ‘village’ that has contributed to the success of this program, that I walk off into the sunset,” Polillo said.

From an underdog start to a triple-crown finish, the Paris FC U15 Boys delivered a season their families — and their community — will not soon forget.