Julia Friesen
Special to The Lake Report
The Niagara-on-the-Lake Soccer Club wrapped up another successful outdoor season on Saturday with its annual closing festival at Virgil Sports Park.
The day was a wonderful celebration of soccer, community and the hundreds of local children who took part in the 2026 season. Players from the club’s youngest Timbits program through the older youth divisions (U-15) came together with their families, coaches and volunteers to celebrate the season and everything they accomplished on the field.
The festival featured a full morning and afternoon of soccer, with players and goalies participating in development activities with coach Rosaly Petriello and coach Phil Riley, scrimmages and games (our U-12 program and U-15 program played versus Thorold Soccer Club) before coming together to receive their end-of-season medals plus some swag (hats and t shirts) from MVP Uniforms.
The fields were filled with excited players and families, creating a fun and energetic atmosphere throughout the day.
In addition to the soccer, families enjoyed a barbecue, bouncy castle from Niagara Inflatables, and ice cream from L.A. Vibes, while coaches and volunteers helped make the day run smoothly.
The festival also gave the club an opportunity to recognize the tremendous commitment of its volunteer coaches, board members and other volunteers who dedicate countless hours to making the season possible.
Our current board has 15 members and we had 16 travel coaches for eight travel teams and 38 house league coaches for six divisions — all volunteers.
The club has a list of 29 referees for all of our divisions that help run things throughout the year.
The event was proudly sponsored by Meridian, whose support, along with that of the club’s many 2026 sponsors, helped make the celebration possible. The NOTL Soccer Club is incredibly grateful for the continued support of local businesses and the community.
The closing festival was a fitting end to a season filled with growth, development, friendships and plenty of memories. Most importantly, it was a chance for the players to celebrate what soccer is all about — having fun, being part of a team and enjoying the game together.
The NOTL Soccer Club would like to thank all of its players, families, coaches, volunteers, sponsors and the Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake for helping make the 2026 season such a success.
The club is already looking ahead to 2027, with travel soccer registration underway and preparations beginning for another exciting year of soccer in Niagara-on-the-Lake.
