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2011 Canada West women's soccer preview: Anyone's game as new season begins
EDMONTON – The 2011 Canada West season begins this weekend, with the men starting on Friday night and the women on Saturday afternoon.
Here is a look at the 10 women’s soccer schools as Week 1 approaches…
ALBERTA PANDAS
2010 conference record: 10-2-2 (1st)
2010 playoffs: 1-1
Last CW title: 2001
Last CIS title: 2001
CIS ranking: #4
CW ranking: #2
Key additions: Annalise Schellenberg (S), Dominica Wronski (M)
Key returnees: Kelti Biggs (GK), Heather Lund (S), Sarah Smyth (S), Elise Emmot (M)
Key departures: Keshia Wallin (D), Christina Le (S)
EDMONTON – Although the Pandas have claimed two consecutive Canada West bronze medals, the squad will look to improve upon the end of last season.
The roster boasts 16 returning players who were part of last year’s high-flying offence that scored 32 goals, while Canada West Rookie of the Year Kelti Biggs shut the door at the other end, only allowing nine goals in 14 games.
Senior strikers Heather Lund and Sarah Smyth will lead the attack. With 14 career goals each, fourth-years Carleigh Miller and Amanda Black should also contribute.
The departure of Keshia Wallin from the Pandas, affects the team on several fronts. Prolific scoring newcomers Annalise Schellenberg, who spent time with the Alberta Provincial team and at the Prairie National Team Training Centre, and Dominica Wronski will shore up Alberta’s already lethal attack.
UBC THUNDERBIRDS
2010 conference record: 8-5-1 (4th)
2010 playoffs: 2-3
Last CW title: 2007
Last CIS title: 2006
CIS ranking: #6
CW ranking: #3
Key additions: Ally Williamson (GK); Emily Wilson (GK)
Key returnees: Kelly Cook (D); Alisha Penev (D); Lisa Furutani (MF); Natalie Hirayama (MF); Janine Frazao (F); Rachel Sawer (F)
Key departures: Jessica Briker (D); Caitlin Davie (MF); Carmen Lindsay (MF)
VANCOUVER – Year two of the Mark Rogers era begins on the UBC campus.
Forwards Janine Frazao and Rachel Sawer lead the charge up front and have been a dangerous scoring duo since their rookie campaigns. Frazao recorded eight goals last season, third-best in the Canada West conference. UBC’s midfield will have to deal with the departure of leaders Caitlin Davie and Carmen Lindsay, but fifth-year All-Stars Lisa Furutani and Natalie Hirayama head up a young, talented group.
Captain Kelly Cook and Alisha Penev are the returning stars on defence, which recorded seven shutouts in 19 regular season and playoff games. Rookies Ally Williamson and Emily Wilson will battle for a starting job in goal. Williamson is a Vancouver Whitecaps FC prospect.
CALGARY DINOS
2010 conference record: 6-5-3 (6th)
2010 playoffs: N/A
Last CW title: 2005
Last CIS title: 1998
CIS ranking: N/A
CW ranking: #7
Key additions: Robyn Dutton (D), Victoria Moretti (MF), Alex Briere (F)
Key returnees: Tessa Miller (F), Saaraa Premji (MF), Caitlin Milne (D)
Key departures: Lindsay Burrowes (MF), Brittany Benson (MF), Morena Ianniello (F)
CALGARY – For the first time in 17 years there will be a different leader patrolling the sidelines for the Dinos, as Matt Shepherd takes over for long-time head coach Robin Slot.
Lindsay Burrowes and Morena Ianniello graduated last spring, so Coach Shepherd will be looking at his fifth-year seniors, including Caitlin Milne and Saaraa Premji, to guide the team. Milne, a Second Team All-Star at fullback, sports a versatility that is as impressive as her defensive talents, while Premji brings a type of enthusiasm and work ethic that coaches dream of as a model for their young players.
Offensive sensation Tessa Miller returns for her fourth year. Miller, who tied for first in points in Canada West in 2010 with 14, placed fifth with Canada at the FISU games in Shenzhen, China in August.
Shepherd’s first list of recruits is vast, and includes the likes of Calgarian Robyn Dutton, formerly of the UCLA Bruins of the NCAA and a product of the Canadian national team system. Fellow Calgarians, Victoria Moretti and Alex Briere, among others, fill out the recruiting class.
FRASER VALLEY CASCADES
2010 conference record: 8-5-1 (3rd)
2010 playoffs: 4-1 (CW champs, CIS bronze)
Last CW title: 2010
Last CIS title: N/A
CIS ranking: #7
CW ranking: #4
Key addition: McKenzie Shopland
Key returnees: Megan Webster, Ellen Kuyer, Chantelle Biagioni, Danielle Schmidt
Key departure: Lyndsay Munro
ABBOTSFORD, BC – The Cascades and head coach Rob Giesbrecht have 11 returning players and an excellent recruiting class.
The Cascades are led by fifth-year veteran captain Megan Webster, who led UFV in scoring last year with eight regular season goals. Also returning up front is fifth-year forward Ellen Kuyer, who scored five regular season goals and three more in the post-season. Danielle Schmidt, a third-year defender, will anchor a young defence with four-year goalkeeper Chantelle Biagioni returning to take charge of the back line.
McKenzie Shopland, a first-year midfielder, heads the very talented rookie class that Coach Giesbrecht has been working on since he was hired in June of 2010. The rookies will make an impact right from the start as they did on the very successful preseason which saw UFV go 5-0-2 against NCAA and CIS opponents.
LETHBRIDGE PRONGHORNS
2010 conference record: 1-12-1 (10th)
2010 playoffs: N/A
Last CW title: N/A
Last CIS title: N/A
CIS ranking: N/A
CW ranking: #10
Key additions: Jericka Versikaitis (D), Jaime Bromley (M), Stephanie Groten (M), Kayla Wurzer (M)
Key returnees: Kathy Curtis (D), Janelle Groten (M), Jaclyn Groten (M), Sherry Latrace (M)
Key departures: Amy Schweitzer (D), Andrea Nippard (M)
LETHBRIDGE - The Lethbridge Pronghorns women’s soccer team enters the 2011 season with a veteran laden team with 12 players in at least their third-year of eligibility.
With the departure of Andrea Nippard, who led the Horns in goals with three and Amy Schweitzer, more than 60% of their offensive output and leadership is gone. Seniors Janelle and Jaclyn Groten will be asked to assume key roles in the midfield while Kathy Curtis will anchor a new defensive backline.
Also integral this season will be the return of goalkeeper Taura Truba, who sat out the 2010 season after transferring back to Lethbridge from University of South Dakota. ACAC transfers Jericka Versikaitis and Jaime Bromley are expected to make significant impacts in their first year with the program.
MANITOBA BISONS
2010 conference record: 1-9-4 (9th)
2010 playoffs: N/A
Last CW title: N/A
Last CIS title: N/A
CIS ranking: N/A
CW ranking: #8
Key additions: Coaching staff additions (Desiree Scott, Hadyn Sloane-Seal, and Amy Anderson), Meagan Graca, Elyce Molyneaux
Key returnees: Jaime Lacoste, Michelle Kliment, Carrie Nash, Victoria Sanders, Meagan Smith, Laura Harrison
Key departures: N/A
WINNIPEG – The Bisons women’s soccer team looks to improve on last season’s 1-9-4 record with a solid core group of returning players, all of which have worked hard in the off-season to improve their play. The goal for the 2011 edition of the Bisons is to make the playoffs.
Leading those veterans is last season’s leading scorer for the Bisons, Carrie Nash. Her four goals were two clear of team mate Paula Fast for the team lead. Nash was also named a Canada West All-Star last season.
Laura Harrison also returns to the goalkeeper position this season, but will have competition for the starting job. Her competition will be Chloe Werle, a very athletic goalkeeper with lots of potential. Werle started one game for the Bisons last year and played in three.
Chris Lewis returns as head coach for his second season, but Lewis has also brought in three new assistant coaches with high levels of experience both on the field as players and on the sidelines as coaches. Desiree Scott, fresh off her appearance at the FIFA Women’s World Cup, will join Lewis, along with Hadyn Sloane-Seale and Amy Anderson.
REGINA COUGARS
2010 conference record: 5-7-2 (8th)
2010 playoffs: N/A
Last CW title: N/A
Last CIS title: N/A
CIS ranking: N/A
CW ranking: #9
Key additions: F Veronica Boesch, M Carly
Dueck, M Adriana McCullough, D Celia Michaud
Key losses: D Catherine Lukan
Key returnees: GK Michelle Anderson, D Sarah Novak, M Molly Glass
Key departures: N/A
REGINA - The Cougars set program records for both wins and points during the 2010 campaign, and return almost the entire roster as they look to build upon that performance in 2011.
Headlining the returners is fifth-year goalkeeper and co-captain Michelle Anderson, who became the first player in U of R history to be named a Canada West First-Team All-Star after a spectacular 2010 season.
Also back is fourth-year left back Sarah Novak, who led all Cougar outfielders in minutes played last year and serves as the team’s other co-captain. Fifth-year defender Dana Renneberg, one of four of the team’s outfielders to register over 1000 minutes played in 2010, will also be a stalwart for the Cougars on the back line.
Tiffany Gyurek, Meagan Cormier, Molly Glass, and Megan Florizoneare also back. Tayler Firth tied for the team lead in goals last season and is also in the mix at midfield. Up front, they return veteran striker Tegan Koroluk and second-year players Adrianna Bonutti and Jayde McFee, while first-year forward Veronica Boesch is also pushing hard for playing time in her first season on campus.
SASKATCHEWAN HUSKIES
2010 conference record: 7-6-1 (5th)
2010 playoffs: N/A
Last CW title: N/A
Last CIS title: N/A
CIS ranking: N/A
CW ranking: #6
Key additions: Kelly Cerkowniak, Carmen Gorlick, Aashna Singhi
Key returnees: Elizabeth Hudon, Daniela Fuenzalida, Leanne Mylymok
Key departures: Jamie LeMay, Sarah Laverty, Courtney Laverty, Maria Rogal
SASKATOON – After setting a program-best in wins in 2010, the Huskie look to take the next step in becoming the first Huskie team to make the Canada West playoffs.
The Huskies return Canada West leading scorer and All-Star Elizabeth Hudon. Entering her fifth year of eligibility, the striker will look to match the leading 11 goals and three assts totals from last year. Also returning is two-time All-Star midfielder Daniela Fuenzalida. The midfielder spent the summer training with Canada’s entry at the 2011 Summer Universiade. In 2010, Fuenzalida tallied six goals and five assists.
The Huskies lost fifth-year striker Jamie LeMay, midfielder and captain Maria Rogal and defenders Courtney Laverty and Sarah Laverty. Looking to replace the leaders in the positions are a strong group of new recruits.
Kelly Cerkowniak, Gillian Pinder and Megan Schenher will bring a high level of technical ability after working with the CSA national training centre. Defenders Carmen Gorlik, Kristen Huel, Trudy-Ann McBean and Erica Parenteau will all vie for a spot at defender, while striker Aashna Singhi will bring speed and a good first touch.
TRINITY WESTERN SPARTANS
2010 conference record: 9-3-2 (2nd)
2010 playoffs: 0-2
Last CW title: 2009
Last CIS title: 2009
CIS ranking: #5
CW ranking: #1
Key additions: Vanessa Kovacs (M), Sarah-Kim Bergeron (F)
Key returnees: Natalie Boyd (M), Jilian Dietrich (D), Kristen Funk (G), Daniela Gerig (F), Nikki Wright (F), Melissa Mobilio (M), Alicia Tesan (F)
Key departures: Becca Ferguson (M), Veronika Rogina (G)
LANGLEY, BC – The Spartans lose only one starter from last year – midfielder Becca Ferguson – making it a veteran-laden-squad.
With goalkeeper Kristen Funk, who led CW with a 0.77 goals against average, returning for her fourth year, the Spartans will have one of the best keepers in the country tending their net.
A recognizable group of defenders includes Nikki Byrne, Jilian Dietrich, Colleen Webber and Jennifer Castillo. Between them they played over 5,000 minutes last season. In the middle they still have Natalie Boyd, Melissa Mobilio, Jenna Di Nunzio and Tessa Meyer, with former Canadian U20 star Vanessa Kovacs and the talented Sarah-Kim Bergeron pushing for time.
Up front, last year’s three leading scorers Daniela Gerig (seven goals), Alicia Tesan (seven goals) and Nikki Wright (four goals) all return.
VICTORIA VIKES
2010 conference record: 5-6-3 (7th)
2010 playoffs: N/A
Last CW title: 2008
Last CIS title: 2005
CIS ranking: N/A
CW ranking: #5
Key additions: D Madeline Smith-Ackerl, M Alysha Elyk, M/F Shannon Elder, M/F Amy Lawrence, F Emma Greig
Key returnees: G Stephanie Parker, D Brigitte Greig, D/M Mallory Hackett, M Jaclyn Sawicki, M Sarah Clark, M Tessa Margetts, F Frankee Bencher
Key departures: Kaitlyn Hunter, M Nellanna Kurylo, D/M Kelly Forbes, D Shayla Behrens
VICTORIA - There are many new faces on the Vikes, as 12 players from the 2010 roster are no longer with the team, including all four starting fullbacks who graduated.
The goal for head coach Tracy David is to toward qualifying for - and winning - the CIS national championship. The young corps includes national team program and Vancouver Whitecaps product Jaclyn Sawicki at midfield in her sophomore year.
Freshman striker Emma Greig of Parksville, younger sister to Vikes fullback Brigitte Greig, joins rookie Shannon Elder of Victoria to add depth to the offence. Frankee Bencher will also start at striker. Goalkeeper Stephanie Parker of Chemainus returns in net to provide a strong foundation for the young defence.
UVic's biggest strength may come in the midfield anchored by Sawicki which includes veterans Jacqueline Harrison, Lindsay Hoetzel, Tessa Margetts and Sarah Clark, a Whitecaps prospect who sat out in 2010 due to injury.
