 |  |
2009 OUA women's soccer awards and all-stars announced
HAMILTON, Ont. - Much like their regular season, the York Lions
women's soccer team is having a positive outcome as Ontario
University Athletics (OUA) announces the 2009 West major award
winners and all-stars.
An outstanding season for York's Ami Otaki (Kanagawa, Japan)
garners her most valuable player honours. Otaki, a second-year
forward, averaged a goal per game this season with 14 goals in 14
matches. She is the third consecutive York student-athlete to win
the award after Stefania Morra (Scarborough, Ont.) won back-to-back
MVPs in 2007 and 2008.
Otaki's teammate Nicole Campbell (Scarborough, Ont.) receives the
T. Litzen Sports rookie of the year award for her exceptional first
season with the Lions. The rookie midfielder scored one goal and
showed a great balance of speed and strength in her OUA debut.
The 2009 West community service award goes to Maria Cusimano (North
York, Ont.) of the McMaster Marauders. Cusimano has been a
volunteer with the local Time for Teens program, providing
leadership and mentoring to teens twice a week for one-hour visits,
where she provided them with an opportunity to visit local
landmarks and sporting events. She also volunteers with Big
Brothers Big Sisters of Hamilton, the Eva Rothwell Youth Centre and
Hoops against Hate, as well as participating in Relay for Life
races. During the summer, Cusimano is a research student at Sick
Kids Hospital in Toronto, where she won the top prize for the Sick
Kids Hospital Research Institute Competition in 2008 and 2009.
Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks head coach Barry McLean wins the West
coach of the year award. McLean led the Hawks to a winning record
and the OUA championship last year and guided this year's team to a
9-3-2 record. Laurier was second in the West with 32 goals, and
allowed just 13. They were ranked as high as No. 4 in the nation
this season.
Otaki and Campbell are joined by York midfielders Alicia Donaldson
(Mississauga, Ont.) and Nicole Markowitz (Toronto), who scored
three and four goals this season, respectively, as well as York
goalkeeper Sarah Fiorini (Newmarket, Ont.) on the West first-team
all-star squad.
Laurier also has a strong showing on the first-team, with four
Golden Hawks receiving all-star honours, including midfielders
Heather Malizia (Burlington, Ont.), Ali McKee (Bracebridge, Ont.)
and Alyssa Lagonia (Kitchener, Ont.). McKee was fifth in OUA
scoring with nine goals, while Malizia netted eight. Third-year
defender Tania Pedron (Maple, Ont.) rounds out the list of Laurier
players.
Other first-team all-stars include third-year forward Cassandre Van
Bakel (Aurora, Ont.) of the Brock Badgers, and Windsor Lancers
defender Sara Kox (Denfield, Ont.).
Three Western Mustangs earn second-team all-star status, including
two rookies. Defender Julianne Macaulay (London, Ont.) and
midfielder Emily Maganja (Oakville, Ont.) made impressive OUA
debuts, and are joined by third-year midfielder Erin Grand
(Toronto).
McMaster is represented on the second-team all-star list by
first-year midfielder Tara Dawdy (Burlington, Ont.), who scored
three goals this season, and fourth-year midfielder Cheryl Druchok
(Palgrave, Ont.), who is an OUA all-star for the fourth consecutive
year.
Brock defender Brittany Vanderkruk (Flamborough, Ont.) is an
all-star for the second time and joins teammate Ali Gartley
(Camlachie, Ont.), who scored two goals in the regular season, on
the second-team.
Laurier midfielder and four-time all-star Sara Hopper (Thornhill,
Ont.), Windsor goalkeeper Danielle St. Germaine (Sarnia, Ont.),
Waterloo Warriors forward Tara Chadwick (Stratford, Ont.) and York
defender Tania Porretta (Brampton, Ont.) round out the West
second-team.
Prizing for all OUA soccer award winners and all-stars is
generously provided by the Ontario Soccer Association.
2009 WOMEN'S WEST
SOCCER MAJOR AWARD WINNERS AND ALL-STARS
Most Valuable Player - Ami Otaki (York)
Rookie of the Year - Nicole Campbell (York)
Community Service - Maria Cusimano (McMaster)
Coach of the Year - Barry MacLean (Laurier)
FIRST TEAM ALL-STARS
Nicole Campbell (Scarborough, Ont.) - York
Alicia Donaldson (Mississauga, Ont.) - York
Sarah Fiorini - GK (Newmarket, Ont.) - York
Sara Kox (Denfield, Ont.) - Windsor
Alyssa Lagonia (Kitchener, Ont.) - Laurier
Heather Malizia (Burlington, Ont.) - Laurier
Nicole Markowitz (Toronto) - York
Ali McKee (Bracebridge, Ont.) - Laurier
Ami Otaki (Kanagawa, Japan) - York
Tania Pedron (Maple, Ont.) - Laurier
Cassandre Van Bakel (Aurora, Ont.) - Brock
SECOND TEAM ALL-STARS
Tara Chadwick (Stratford, Ont.) - Waterloo
Tara Dawdy (Burlington, Ont.) - McMaster
Cheryl Druchok (Palgrave, Ont.) - McMaster
Ali Gartley (Camlachie, Ont.) - Brock
Erin Grand (Toronto) - Western
Sara Hopper (Thornhill, Ont.) - Laurier
Julianne Macaulay (London, Ont.) - Western
Emily Maganja (Oakville, Ont.) - Western
Tania Porretta (Brampton, Ont.) - York
Danielle St. Germaine - GK (Sarnia, Ont.) - Windsor
Brittany Vanderkruk (Flamborough, Ont.) - Brock
– OUA –
