2010 OUA West women's soccer awards and all-stars announced

Photo credit Thomas Kolodziej, Laurier

HAMILTON, Ont. – Sitting atop the West division with 11 wins the Laurier Golden Hawks dominate as Ontario University Athletics (OUA) announces the 2010 West major award winners and all-stars.

Laurier's team co-captain Tania Pedron (Maple, Ont.) has earned the honour of this year's most valuable player. The fourth-year veteran has been a key feature to Laurier's recent success in women's soccer. The midfielder constantly wins battles and controls the pace and control of the game. These attributes earn her the top honour in the women's West Division. Pedron was also named a First-Team All-Star this season.

Pedron's teammate Kelsey Tikka (Thunder Bay, Ont.) was named T. Litzen Sports rookie of the year. The first-year defender was part of the reason for Laurier's stellar 2010 record, keeping the opposition away from the Hawks goal. This rookie was also named to the Second-Team All-Star list.

The 2010 West community service award goes to Alexandra Harris (Dundas, Ont.) of the Guelph Gryphons. Harris is a volunteer with the Guelph Humane Society in the Pet Pals program where she teaches children about the proper treatment of animals. She is also a Special Friend at Guelph Family and Children Services meeting weekly with her partnered child to do activities, and assist in homework. Staying close to her sports roots Harris is also an assistant coach for the Guelph under 13 girls rep soccer team. In this role she designs practices to teach soccer techniques and acts as a role model for young girls.

The Coach of the Year award goes to Richard Barnett of the McMaster Marauders. This coach has earned this award for the second time in his career with the Marauders. In his three seasons with McMaster, Barnett has a record of 22-9-11. Every year he has lead his team to a playoff berth and 2010 marks his best season yet.

Joining Pedron on the First-Team All-Star list are Hawks teammates Alyssa Lagonia (Kitchener, Ont.) and second-time First Team All-Star Ali McKee (Bracebridge, Ont.). Midfielder Heather Malizia (Burlington, Ont.) also makes the First-Team All-Stars for the third time in her career and was named a Second-Team All-Canadian last season. Defender Sadie Anderson (Mississauga, Ont.) was named a Second-Team All-Star for the Golden Hawks.

The defending champions, the York Lions boast five All-Stars. Defender Alicia Donaldson (Mississauga, Ont.) was named a First-Team All-Star for the third consecutive year. Goalkeeper Sarah Fiorini (Newmarket, Ont.) has been named a First-Team All-Star in her first two years as a Lions and Tania Porretta (Brampton, Ont.) was named to the First-Team for this second time in her career. On the Second-Team All-Star list is midfielder Nicole Markowitz (Toronto, Ont.) and rookie forward Sonia Sampogna (Toronto).

The McMaster Marauders have a place in the Final Four with the help of some key players. Midfielder Cheryl Druchok (Palgrave, Ont.) has been named an All-Star for the fourth time in her career as a Marauder. Joining Druchok on the First-Team All-Star list is forward Tara Dawdy (Burlington, Ont.) who scored five goals for the Marauders this season. Rookie goalkeeper Jocelyn Wilkins (London, Ont.) was named a Second-Team All-Star.

Three All-Star awards go to the Brock Badgers for 2010. Forward Larissa Bruzzese (Welland, Ont.) scored eight goals for the Badgers this season and was named to the First-Team All-Stars. Midfielder Cassandra Van Bakel (Aurora, Ont.), former two-time First-Team All-Star was named a Second-Team All-Star this year along with defender Stephanie DiMartino (Markham, Ont.).

The Western Mustangs boast Erin Grand (Toronto). The fourth-year forward was named a First-Team All-Star for the first time in her career and scored six goals for the Mustangs this season. Midfielder Emily Maganja (Oakville, Ont.) was named a Second-Team All-Star.

Guelph, Waterloo and Windsor each name one Second-Team All-Star from their teams this year. Gryphon Melissa Corso (Unionville, Ont.) was named an All-Star for her work in the back field. Tara Chadwick (Stratford, Ont.) scored four goals for the Warriors and was named to the Second-Team for the second year in a row. Windsor Lancer Sara Kox (Denfield, Ont.) was also named to the Second-Team All-Star list.

OUA WOMEN'S WEST SOCCER MAJOR AWARD WINNERS AND ALL-STARS

Most Valuable Player:
Tania Pedron, Laurier

Rookie of the Year:
Kelsey Tikka, Laurier

Community Service:
Alexandra Harris, Guelph

Coach of the Year:
Richard Barnett, McMaster

First Team All-Stars:

Midfielder: Tania Pedron (Maple, Ont.), Laurier
Midfielder: Alyssa Lagonia (Kitchener, Ont.), Laurier
Forward: Ali McKee (Bracebridge, Ont.), Laurier
Midfielder: Cheryl Druchok (Palgrave, Ont.), McMaster
Forward: Erin Grand (Toronto), Western
Defender: Alicia Donaldson (Mississauga, Ont.), York
Midfielder: Heather Malizia (Burlington, Ont.), Laurier
Goalkeeper: Sarah Fiorini (Newmarket, Ont.), York
Forward: Larissa Bruzzese (Welland, Ont.), Brock
Forward: Tara Dawdy (Burlington, Ont.), McMaster
Defender: Tania Porretta (Brampton, Ont.), York

Second Team All-Stars:

Defender: Sara Knox, (Denfield, Ont.) Windsor
Midfielder: Tara Chadwick (Stratford, Ont.), Waterloo
Defender: Sadie Anderson (Mississauga, Ont.), Laurier
Defender: Kelsey Tikka (Thunder Bay, Ont.), Laurier
Midfielder: Cassandra Van Bakel (Aurora, Ont.), Brock
Midfielder: Nicole Markowitz (Toronto), York
Forward: Sonia Sampogna (Toronto), York
Defender: Stephanie DiMartino (Markham, Ont.), Brock
Defender: Melissa Corso (Unionville, Ont.), Guelph
Midfielder: Emily Maganja (Oakville, Ont.), Western
Goalkeeper: Jocelyn Wilkins, McMaster

-OUA-