Nikki Wright Named Canada West Player of the Year

2008 Canada West women's soccer Awards & All-stars announced
Thursday, October 30, 2008

by Canada West Communications Office

EDMONTON - Canada West announces the 2008-09 women's soccer awards and all-stars, as selected by head coaches conference-wide.

Trinity Western Spartans freshman striker Nikki Wright has pulled off a very impressive feat, winning both 2008 Canada West Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year. Wright is also a First Team All-Star and finalist for the CIS Player of the Year award.

A graduate of Langley Secondary School, the Human Kinetics major from Cloverdale, B.C. led Canada West in goals (12), points (18) and game-winning goals (4) as the Spartans went 9-2-3, good for second place in CWUAA regular season play and a spot in the conference semifinal this weekend at Victoria. As host of the CIS event, Wright and the Spartan are already guaranteed a spot at CIS Nationals.

Upon hearing that his star forward had been honoured with two major Canada West awards, Trinity Western head coach Graham Roxburgh said, "What an honor for Nikki to receive this award and it shows that she is an outstanding player in a league that has some tremendous players and teams. This underlines the value that Nikki has brought to our team this season, but also in many ways shows how much our team has grown and contributed to this recognition. Certainly her success and exposure to playing at a high level with teams like the Whitecaps Residency have enabled her to make the jump to the CIS," adding that, "Nikki has had an outstanding rookie season. We knew in recruiting her that she had the potential to come in and make an immediate impact in the league with her talent, pace and ability to finish and she has certainly done that. I have been impressed with her ability to adjust to the strength of defenders in the league and continue to be a dominant player. She is a great young player who will only get better and better."

For her efforts in leading the Vikes to a 10-3-1 record and the No. 1 seed heading into the conference championship, Tracy David has been awarded with the Coach of the Year award. This marks her sixth time that she has won the award, and her second time while at UVic. The Tomslake, B.C. native has guided her Vikes to the post-season in each of her seven years at UVic, posting an all-time record of 68-19-13. In 2005, David led the Vikes to their first and only CIS national championship. Before making her way to the Island, David coached the Alberta Pandas to a pair of CIS championships (1989,1997), six Canada West banners and captured the CIS Coach of the Year award for the 1989 season.

"Tracy David is a well deserved recipient of this award," said UVic Vikes Director of Athletics & Recreation Clint Hamilton. "She brings a winning attitude and an unmatched focus to every facet of her position, and her knowledge for the game of soccer and outstanding coaching abilities are evident by the consistent success her teams demonstrate on the field of play."

Fourth-year Alberta Pandas midfielder Jacqueline Smith is the Canada West nominee for the CIS Student-Athlete Community Service award. Smith scored once and added nine assists for a team-high 10 points and was named a First Team All-Star.

Smith, an assistant captain for the 2008 team, is an instrumental player, holding the middle of the park while creating attack and guiding her young team defensively. She played every minute of every game to date after returning from double knee surgery at the end of the 2007 season. A challenging and painful recovery prohibited her form playing a full game until the beginning of the Canada West Season. Jackie is unique in her student-athlete contributions in that she is a person that truly impacts the groups that she does service with. She volunteered in the Pandas Classic Academy 2008 - attending every session in that she wanted to work with the women who have undertaken the game of soccer later on in life. Jackie is the first ot volunteer for anything that comes up - be it in the Bear Hugs Program at Uof A, the Stollery, Education Week in Elementary Schools, organizing team meetings to help with projects undertaken by her classmates at the University or simply making time for someone interested in the program. As a Program Director for the 2007-2008 and the 2008-2009 Pandas Summer Camps, Jackie has received above average reviews from parents.

"I am extremely pleased that Jackie has been recognized as the recipient of the 2008 Student-Athlete Community Service award,: said Alberta head coach Liz Jepsen. "Her natural kindness, generosity and willingness to help out, touches everyone that meets her. Jackie is a truly unique athlete, talented as a soccer player but gifted as a person for the selfless contributions she makes to those around her; be they in our immediate community or beyond, young or old."

Following is a complete list of all 2008 Canada West women's soccer awards and all-stars:

Awards
Player of the Year: Nikki Wright, Trinity Western
Rookie of the Year: Nikki Wright, Trinity Western
Coach of the Year: Tracy David, Victoria
Student-Athlete Award: Jacqueline Smith, Alberta
Fair Play Award: Saskatchewan

All-Stars
First Team
Goalkeeper
Jaclyn Dunnett, UBC
Fullbacks
Holly Fiddick, Victoria
Chelsea Stang, UBC
Kelly Isberg, UBC
Veronique Mayer, Alberta
Midfielders
Caitlin Davie, UBC
Sarah Cameron, Victoria
Jacqueline Smith, Alberta
Alli Bach, Victoria
Strikers
Nikki Wright, TWU
Desiree Scott, Manitoba

Second Team
Goalkeeper
Stephanie Parker, Victoria
Fullbacks
Jilian Dietrich, TWU
Keshia Wllin, Alberta
Jessica Bricker, UBC
Caitlin Milne, Calgary
Midfielders
Janelle Smith, Victoria
Lindsay Burrowes, Calgary
Dana Dumerton, TWU
Rebecca Ferguson, TWU
Strikers
Caley Miskimmin, Manitoba
Elizabeth Hudon, Saskatchewan

Major award winners now become finalists for Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) national awards, to be handed out at the end of the season. The 2008 CIS women's soccer championship goes Nov. 6-9 at Trinity Western University in Langley, B.C. TWU plus the top finisher (or runner-up, if TWU wins) at this weekend's Canada West Final Six tournament will qualify for Nationals.

About CWUAA
"Canada West is consistently the most decorated of the four conferences in Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS), winning at least 10 CIS national titles every year since 1997-98. Comprised of 14 schools, from Manitoba to B.C., the CWUAA produces numerous major award winners and Academic All-Canadian student-athletes each year, with many going on to athletic success around the globe in events such as the Olympics or Universiade Games."

 

Last Updated: 2009-09-03
Author: Scott Stewart