SEASON PREVIEW: UP FOR THE CHALLENGE

Women's Soccer (Season Preview)
Thursday, September 10, 2009

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

UP FOR THE CHALLENGE

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Trinity Western Spartans
2008-09 conference record: 9-2-1 (2nd)
2008-09 CW championship: 1-1 (2nd)
2008-09 CIS championship: 3-0 (1st)
Last CW title: 2006
Last CIS title: 2008

LANGLEY, B.C. - Since joining CIS in 2002 the Trinity Western Spartans have rapidly become one of the premier programs in the CIS. They have won two national championships, in 2008 and 2004, and two Canada West championships, in 2006 and 2004, and have been in the national championship three of the last five years, where they have accumulated a solid 7-1-1 record.

From the makeup of this year’s team it looks like this trend will continue as they appear to have all the pieces falling into place to have a shot at playing again in November and defending their CIS title.

The Spartans are a young group, with the average years of CIS experience is just over two years, and may have arrived early last year when they won the CIS championship, but TWU head coach Graham Roxburgh is working on keeping his team looking forward and not back at past glory.

“We are doing everything that we can so that we don’t have a ‘hang-over’ from last year. We are trying to create a culture that says you have to come to play every day and you have to fight to compete. You have to have a healthy respect for your opponent and you can’t take anybody for granted.”

Despite Roxburgh’s focus on the present it is difficult not to think that the Spartans have a legitimate shot at getting back to the CIS championship. TWU returns nearly a complete lineup from last year’s squad and the spots that needed replacing have been filled with top level recruits.

Leading the group of returnees is Canada West goal-scoring (12 goals) and point leader (18 points), forward Nikki Wright (Cloverdale, B.C.), who won several awards last season, including Canada West Player of the Year, CIS Rookie of the Year and Sport B.C. University Athlete of the Year. The second-year forward only got better in the off-season, playing with Canada’s FISU team and the Vancouver Whitecaps senior team. Up front with Wright is CIS tournament MVP Daniela Gerig (Langley, B.C.), who finished second in CW in goal-scoring last season, with nine. In the middle the Spartans are strong, with returning depth and experience, which will be anchored by FISU teammates and CW all-star Rebecca Ferguson (Calgary) and Melissa Mobilio (Coquitlam, B.C.) and on the defensive end the Spartans will be strong with FISU defender and CW all-star Jillian Dietrich (Calgary) on the back-line and FISU keeper Kristen Funk (Calgary), who finished third in CW with a goals against average of 0.90.

Leading the class of newcomers are B.C. Canada Games teammates midfielder Natalie Boyd (Surrey, B.C.) and forward Alicia Tesan (Vancouver). The pair along with second-year midfielder Tessa Meyer (Surrey), helped lead B.C. to a gold medal at this year’s games in P.E.I. Also joining the team are Colleen Webber (Calgary) and Kristen Santema (Coquitlam), two defenders who will strengthen the team and become very important to the teams core.

The questions for the Spartans are: will the youthful group be able to gel as a team in time to make the post season and will they be able to handle the pressure of having everyone in CW gunning for you every time you step onto the pitch. Only time can answer the question and determine if youth will be served or not.

The Spartans kick off the Canada West season next Fri., Sept. 12 and Sat. Sept. 13 when they will travel to the prairies to take on the University of Saskatchewan and the University of Alberta. They will continue their road games on Sat. Sept. 19 when they will travel to the University of British Columbia to face the Thunderbirds. The Spartans will return to TWU for their home opener on Sat. Sept. 26 when they will once again face the Thunderbirds.

-TW-

Last Updated: 2009-09-10
Author: Scott Stewart