To my knowledge, there is no formalized promotional structure in place for the newly-formed Toronto Soccer League (TOSL), allowing for upward movement towards other similar groupings under the umbrella of Ontario Soccer.

Based on the performances from a handful of the GSSC (Greater Sudbury Soccer Club) Impact teams this summer, this might well be a conversation that is soon worth entertaining.

Of the eight local teams competing in the TOSL in 2023, three hold down first place, two are in second, with another undefeated entry (U14B) a little further down the standings only because of a lack of games played at this point.

Yes, it is true that the overall competitiveness of the Toronto-based brackets have breathed a breath of fresh air into the lives of the Impact faithful, with the overwhelming majority of contests still up for grabs well into second half play.

But it’s also a fact that development is aided by the presence of a push, that extra motivation that comes from trying to reach up to the standards of those who rank ahead of you and your team. Trying to catch those kids who are that little bit faster, little bit stronger, little bit better only aids athletes in taking their own game to the next level.

All of that is rendered a touch more difficult if one sits atop of the mountain, looking down on all others.

Ironically, it was a middle of a pack team, the 3-0-1 U14 lads that presented perhaps the best case last weekend, reaching double digits in a lopsided win over Wexford as Landen Lake-Rego, Samuel Julius, Roman Mamonov, Domingo Quintan, Jared Ferguson-Whitely, Reid Faux, Matteo Ceccon, Nick Alexander, Dominic D’Angelo and Connor Nicholson all found the back of the net for the squad that absolutely dominated HDSL (Huronia District Soccer League) play last summer.

Their female counterparts, the U14 Impact girls made it seven wins in as many games with a 5-0 whitewashing of SC Toronto followed by a 2-1 squeaker over Toronto High Park. Ryann Chevrier (2), Eva Haraschuk, Makenna Messier and Mia Beites provided ample support to keep Anika Rheaume in the opener, with Ariana Tonkovic joining Haraschuk on the scoresheet the next day for the northern crew who will face Milton FC in Ontario Cup quarter-final action this Sunday.

Also at the head of their class, the Impact U13 boys slipped past the Nipissing District Lakers 2-1 in North Bay last Thursday, with Logan Anderson and Rhys Johnson-Calixte finding the mark. The team is anticipating another stiff test upon their return home on July 23rd, welcoming EY Atletico (3-0-0) to Queen’s Athletic Field for a noon encounter.

Competing in a U18 division that is ripe with parity, the first place Sudbury lads played to a 2-2 draw with Vaughan FC, the teams separated by just a single point in the standings as Finn Gould and Maliq Olanrewaju registered strikes for the Impact. Coach Nicholas Walker and company return to the familiarity of the James Jerome Sports Complex this weekend, with both the Toronto Azzuri and Newmarket United making the trek north.

The second place GSSC entries both experienced mixed results on the weekend, with the Impact U16 girls racking up a win (2-0 – Leticia Silva – two goals; shutout by Amy Flores) and a tie (2-2 – Sudbury goals from Bryn Hobson and Natalia Begic) in games against the visiting Islington Rangers while the U17 boys earned a split at home.

Bouncing back from a tough 5-1 loss to at the hands of Canadian FC (Maximus Aziz with the GSSC goal), the U17 Impact boys responded with one of their best efforts of the year in blanking YJ Olympiacos Kitchener 2-0 Sunday in Sudbury. Roy Solarin kicked things off, breaking clear and steering a ball to his right into the corner of the net, with Liam Binks converting on a direct kick a short while later, through traffic, from about thirty yards out to double the lead.

Solid team defense and timely saves by Impact keeper Niko Tuttle did the rest as the 4-1-1 local squad take to the road this weekend, battling both Olympiacos and the North Toronto Nitros. The U15 boys battled to a 3-3 draw with Toronto CB Black Wolves (Alessandro Moretta, Caleb Pearson, Donald Munyua) while the HDSL entry at the same age received a pair of goals from Colton Cooke, suffering a setback to Muskoka United.

Heck, even the teams that are not at the top of the table have their sights set in that direction.

Though a 3-1 loss to the North Toronto Nitros (Byron Nelson) followed by a 2-1 win over Gil Vicente FC Toronto (Al-Ameen Salami, Braxton Ragogna) would leave the Impact U16 boys sitting fourth in a league of 13 teams, their record of 4-3-0 leaving five games still to play, veteran centreback Luca Cucullo has not yet written off a run at first place.

“I think we have a chance to get up there,” said the grade 11 student at Lo-Ellen Park Secondary School. “By the end of the season, when all of the new guys are up to par with everyone else, we’ll be one of the better teams in the league.”

Like most of the GSSC players who have competed in all sorts of different leagues over the years, not to mention dealing with all that a global pandemic threw their way, Cucullo appreciates a schedule where more than half of their games have been decided by two goals or less.

“It’s definitely a lot faster,” he said. “The competition is harder because we’re playing in the TOSL – but we’ve all improved, as a team. I think we’re doing very well for a team that hasn’t played against teams like this before.”

Even outside the parameters of the TOSL, it would be hard for Impact teams to complain.

The U21 women evened their record at 2-2-2 with a 3-2 win over Toronto High Park, courtesy of a hat trick from Kiara Levac. After scoring her first goal of the season on a penalty kick earlier this month, Toronto-born / now Sudburian Alyssa Eid stressed where she believes her team continues to show improvement.

“Playing more on the ground has helped us – and playing faster, sending the ball through the midfield and playing to the wings and going from there,” noted the 17 year old who begins her post-secondary studies in Kinesiology in the fall at the University of Waterloo after graduating from St Benedict Catholic Secondary School last month.

Arriving in northern Ontario with a competitive soccer background that include time spent with West Rouge Soccer Club in Scarborough, Eid has provided Impact coach Connor Vande Weghe with a great deal of versatility, blessed with experience on the wings and in the midfield in addition to spending time in Sudbury as a fullback.

“I think you just have to be aware and creative when you’re playing, think ahead of what their players are going to do,” said Eid. “I try and anticipate what’s going to happen before they actually play the ball so I can adapt to where I am going to go.”

Finally, the Impact U21 men struggled in dropping a 4-0 decision to York United FC Primavera on Saturday but looked much better in earning a point against the Oak Ridges Knights the next day as Diallo Hafiss Adou added two more tallies to his summer output.