The A.N. Myer Marauders had no answer for Ryan Smukavic.
The 18-year-old, Grade 12 striker scored three times — including two in the first 10 minutes of the game — as the Blessed Trinity Thunder defeated the Marauders 5-2 Thursday to capture the Southern Ontario Secondary Schools Association (SOSSA) boys AAA soccer title.
It is the second straight championship and third in the last four seasons for the Thunder, who now head to Kingston next week for the Ontario Federation of Athletic School Associations (OFSSA) championships.
Smukavic was thrilled to be able to contribute to such a significant victory.
“It feels really good,” he said. “Two years in a row. We’ve worked hard for it. We’ve been practising, locked in during the right time.”
Smukavic, who plays with the Rush Soccer Academy, completed his hat trick early in the second half to put the Marauders up 4-0.
“He’s a solid player, that’s for sure,” Thunder head coach Michael Minicucci said. “He’s got great skill, great abilities, both in and off the ball. He’s the type of player that really knows how to shield the ball and protect it.”