​Huron United avenges playoff defeat, with victory over Simba FC in TMSL season opener

The 2025 Tri-City Men's Soccer League schedule presented the Huron United Football Club with an early opportunity to exorcise last season's demons.

After a semi-final loss to Simba FC ended Huron United’s 2024 playoff run, the team welcomed Simba back to Spinrite Field in Listowel to kick off the new season, May 20. A determined performance, with strong contributions from veterans and fresh signings, alike, saw Huron United earn a 4-2 victory.

Winger Drew Cobean won an early free kick for Huron United with a deft touch to induce the Simba defender into a desperate challenge. Midfielder Flynn Colwell-Castles’ ensuing free kick initiated a sequence of pressure that culminated in a classic Adam Carty curled finish in the fifth minute. Carty's strike partner, Gerrit Satosek, assisted the opening marker.

Simba levelled against the run of play in the 21st minute after its striker found enough space to slot a composed shot past newly-signed Huron United keeper Josh Coleman.

Huron United’s marking faltered after the equalizer, allowing Simba a run of sustained possession. A swinging blast from Simba's right winger found the top left corner of the Huron United net in the 29th minute, giving the visitors a 2-1 lead.

Cobean nearly pulled Huron United level on the brink of half-time with a blast that barely cleared the crossbar. Debutante Jihu Kim facilitated the chance with a clever cross from the top of the box.

Fullback Anderson Wolfe set the tone immediately in the second half with a pair of marauding runs down the left flank. Huron United capitalized on the pressure less than three minutes into the half with an early contender for goal of the season. Co-captain Satosek muscled his way into the Simba 18-yard box before laying off to Andrew Wiegersma in the left corner. Wiegersma swung a perfect cross onto the boot of A. Carty, who smashed home the volley with authority.

Coleman further endeared himself to his new teammates in the 52nd minute with a leaping save to pull a blast out of the top corner. A reckless Simba challenge on the subsequent corner left Coleman shaken, but he played through the injury.

Centre-back trio Masoom Saromie, James Tigert, and newcomer Shady Dahrouj helped generate a series of fast-break chances via well-won aerial duels and discerning long balls, which yielded near-misses for Cobean and Colwell-Castles.

It took only until the 71st minute for a challenger for goal of the season to emerge. Attacking midfielder Ryan Schriek lobbed a through ball to a streaking Cobean, who paused as the ball bounced behind him, leaned forward to flick the ball ahead off his own back, and then calmly put it past the keeper for a 3-2 lead.

A brotherly connection upped Huron United’s advantage to two goals only three minutes later, with Carty the Elder (Adam) placing an inch-perfect pass to Carty the Younger (Ryan), who surged up from fullback to expertly pick out the far corner. Huron United held on for the 4-2 victory, with a narrow offside call denying A. Carty his hat-trick in the closing stages.

A tight Man of the Match vote saw A. Carty earn the honour with honourable mentions to Wolfe and Coleman.

Huron United’s 2025 roster consists of: Adam Carty, Adam Holley, Anderson Wolfe, Andrew Wiegersma, Angus Sharpe, Anirudha Panditrao, Cam Fletcher, Charlie Hall-Elwood, Drew Cobean, Flynn Colwell-Castles, Gerrit Satosek (C), Jacob Hunsburger (C), James Jeffereys, James Tigert, Jason Leiskau, Jihu Kim, Josh Coleman, Masoom Saromie, Murray Martin, Riley Cherrett, Ryan Carty, Ryan Schriek, Shady Dahrouj, and Simon Andonian. The team is coached by Anirudha Panditrao, Pat Carty, and Dave McNeish.

Huron United is playing out of the Tri-City Men's Soccer League again this season, and the team’s next match is against Suspects FC, Tuesday, May 27, at Spinrite Field, Listowel. Huron United’s roster is composed of players from Kincardine, Port Elgin, and surrounding areas, playing under the Saugeen Shores United Football Club. The club can be followed at www.kdslsoccer.com/teams/default.asp?u=KDSL&s=soccer&p=home.