WOMEN’S SOCCER HOSTS UBC IN SEASON OPENER SATURDAY
WOMEN’S SOCCER (CANADA WEST)
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2011
WEEKEND PREVIEW
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WOMEN’S SOCCER HOSTS UBC IN SEASON OPENER SATURDAY
LANGLEY, British Columbia – The Trinity Western women’s soccer team (No. 5 in CIS rankings) opens its Canada West regular season schedule this weekend at home against UBC (No. 6) Saturday at 5:00 p.m.
Last year the Spartans and Thunderbirds split their season series with both team’s earning wins on the road. UBC won the first game 1-0 on Oct. 16 while Trinity Western responded a week later with a 1-0 win on Oct. 23.
Click here to watch the game LIVE.
TRINITY WESTERN SPARTANS
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.
UBC THUNDERBIRDS
CW ranking: #3
CIS ranking: #6
2010 conference record: 8-5-1 (4th)
2010 playoffs: 2-3
Last CW title: 2007
Last CIS title: 2006
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)
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.
-TW-
-UBC-
Last Updated: 2011-09-09
Email: Mark.Janzen@twu.ca