WOMEN'S SOCCER OPENS SEASON NO. 1 IN CANADA WEST
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| Caitlin Haines |
WOMEN’S SOCCER
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2011
FISU GAMES
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WOMEN'S SOCCER OPENS SEASON NO. 1 IN CANADA WEST
LANGLEY, B.C. – The Trinity Western women's soccer team opens the 2011-12 season as the No. 1 ranked team in Canada West and the No. 5 ranked side in CIS. The Spartans return all but one starter and are looking to get back to the CIS championship this year after missing out on the title tournament last year for the first time since 2007.
2011 CW Rank: #1
2011 CIS Rank: #5
2010 CW Record: 9-3-2, 2nd
2010 CW Tournament: 4th
2010 CIS Tournament: N/A
Last CW Title: 2009
Last CIS Title: 2009
Key returnees: Natalie Boyd (M), Jennifer Castillo (D), Nikki Byrne (M), Jenna Di Nunzio (M), Jilian Dietrich (D), Kristen Funk (G), Daniela Gerig (F), Nikki Wright (F), Melissa Mobilio (M), Colleen Webber (D), Alicia Tesan (F), Tessa Meyer (M), Alexi Foster (M), Kristen Santema (D)
Key additions: Vanessa Kovacs (M), Sarah-Kim Bergeron (F)
Key departures: Becca Ferguson (M), Veronika Rogina (G)
The Trinity Western women’s soccer team comes into the 2011-12 campaign determined to get back to the top.
Last year, the team entered the season with hopes of winning an unprecedented third CIS championship in a row. But that didn’t happen. And when they lost in the Canada West Final Four semifinal and then again in the CW bronze medal game, it was a bit of a shock to the system but, at the same time, as has been evident in preseason, created a renewed motivation for this year.
Coming into this season, the Spartans are without only one starter from last year – midfielder Becca Ferguson – and, while her impact will surely be missed, it’s a veteran laden-squad that will represent TWU this fall and one that has plenty of winning pedigree.
With goalkeeper Kristen Funk, who led CW with a 0.77 goals against average, returning for her fourth year at TWU, the Spartans will have one of the best keepers in the country tending their net. Funk started 10 games last year and allowed just eight goals while making 43 saves, posting a 6-2-2 record and recording four shutouts. With fellow goalkeeper Veronika Rogina now graduated, it’ll be all Funk this year defending the woodwork.
Just in front of her will be recognizable group of defenders including Nikki Byrne, Jilian Dietrich, Colleen Webber, Jennifer Castillo and Kristen Santema. Between the five of them, they played nearly 7000 minutes last year and, while Santema is a bit of a question mark because of health issues, with Castillo back to full health, expect the back line to be a dominant force for TWU.
In the middle, other than the loss of Ferguson, there are not a whole lot of changes for TWU. Natalie Boyd, Melissa Mobilio, Jenna Di Nunzio, Alexi Foster and Tessa Meyer are all back and with a pair of new players in former Canadian U20 star Vanessa Kovacs and the talented Sarah-Kim Bergeron pushing for time, it’ll be a deep group of quality athletes.
Up front, last year’s three leading scorers Daniela Gerig (seven goals), Alicia Tesan (seven goals) and Nikki Wright (four goals) all return. Add to that the addition of former Vancouver Whitecaps Prospects striker Melissa Horahan, who redshirted last year, and the Spartans have the making of a strong scoring unit.
Through four preseason games, the Spartans scored nine goals and allowed five as they went 3-1-0 , with their final match being a 3-2 win over McGill who will host this year’s women’s soccer CIS championship.
The Spartans open the 2011-12 Canada West regular season Saturday when they host UBC at 5:00 p.m. at Rogers Park on the campus of Trinity Western University.
Canada West Preseason Rankings
1. Trinity Western (3) 91
2. Alberta (3) 89
3. UBC (3) 86
4. Fraser Valley (1) 71
5. Victoria 58
6. Saskatchewan 55
7. Calgary 39
8. Manitoba 33
9. Regina 28
10. Lethbridge 20
-TW-
Last Updated: 2011-09-08
Email: Mark.Janzen@twu.ca