2005 FINAL LEAGUE STANDINGS
East (W – L – T)
Durham (7-0-0)
Algonquin (5-1-1)
Fleming, P (4-2-1)
Loyalist (3-3-1)
Centennial (3-4-0)
Seneca (1-3-3)
St. Lawrence, K (1-5-1)
La Cite (0-6-1)
West (W – L – T)
Fanshawe (7-1-0)
Sheridan (6-1-1)
Mohawk (5-2-1)
Humber (4-3-1)
St. Clair (4-3-1)
Lambton (3-4-1)
Cambrian (2-4-2)
Redeemer (0-6-2)
Conestoga (0-7-1)
2005 CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS
Gold: Fanshawe
Silver: Sheridan
Bronze: Mohawk
THIS WEEK IN THE OCAA
It’s a new year with a new look and new optimisms in the OCAA
Women’s Soccer League this season. Cleats will be tearing up
the Soccer Pitch this upcoming week as the 2006 OCAA Women’s
Soccer season kicks off this Thursday with the Conestoga Condors
hosting the Sheridan Bruins September 14 at 5pm. The defending
champion Fanshawe Falcons will start their quest for a repeat title
this weekend as they travel down the 401 to their rival St. Clair
Saints on September 15 at 5:00pm.
2006-2007 WOMEN’S SOCCER TEAM PREVIEWS
EAST REGION
Algonquin
2005 Regular Season Record: 5-1-1 (2nd – East)
2005 Post Season Record: 0-1
Championships Won: 3
The 2006 Algonquin Thunder team is filled with new names and
veterans alike as the squad consists of half newcomers and half
returning players. Algonquin returns seven players from 2005
leaving room for a talented rookie class to make an immediate
impact. Leading the list of returning players to watch out for are
Lauren Brown, 2005 All-Star Sweeper and Andrea Reynolds a 6’5
second-year goalie. Coach Garth Gittens hopes his team of newcomers
and veterans can mesh to play as a unit and up to their potential
with an injury-free season.
La Cite
2005 Regular Season Record: 0-6-1 (8th – West)
2005 Post Season Record: DNQ
Championships Won: 0
The La Cite Coyotes are looking to rebound from a disappointing
2005 season with a new attitude in 2006. The Coyotes will be
looking to move up the OCAA standings and become a more competitive
team in their West region this season. Head Coach Donald Bouchard
returns nine players from last year’s squad and is optimistic
his team will have a chance to climb the standings in 2006. In net,
the Coyotes have a pair of returning consistent and athletic
goalkeepers in Michelle Foley and Michelle Larocque. Also look for
rookie Mélanie Dupuis to contribute between the pipes as the
season progresses. The Coyotes open their 2006 schedule on the road
against Loyalist College on September 22 at 4:00pm.
Centennial
2005 Regular Season Record: 3-4-0 (5th – East)
2005 Post Season Record: DNQ
Championships Won: 0
The Centennial Colts 2006 squad is looking to climb the OCAA
standings this season in the East Region after a 3-4-0 overall
record in 2005. The team finished fifth in the East Region and
failed to make the playoffs. With great leadership from returning
players and a solid rookie class, the Colts campaign to improve on
last year’s fifth place finish looks promising. Centennial
will kick off their season against the St. Lawrence Vikings at home
on September 16 at 2:00pm.
Durham
2005 Regular Season Record: 7-0-0 (1st-East)
2005 Post Season Record: 1-2 (4th)
Championships Won: 3
The Lords entered last year’s championship as the only
undefeated team in the pre-season and as the 2-time defending
champions. It will be a rebuilding season for the Lords this season
as they return few starters from last year’s 31-goal
powerhouse team. Coach Vaso Vujanovic is looking for a strong
recruiting class coming in to help balance out his team.
Defensively the Lords look solid between the pipes as they return
both goalkeepers, Ashley Visser and Morgan Kelly.
Loyalist
2005 Regular Season Record: 3-3-1 (4th – East)
2005 Post Season Record: 0-1
Championships Won: 0
The Lancer squad accomplished a stellar season last year qualifying
for the playoffs for the programs first time in 10 years. Things
are looking promising for the Lancers as last year’s
turnaround team will see 10 players return to the pitch this
season. 2005 East Region Rookie of the Year Jessica Woods,
Goalkeeper Sarah Smith and Midfielder Terri Relf lead the
key-returning players. Also look for rookie Allison Waddell to help
the Lancer backline on defense. The Lancers hope to qualify for the
playoffs again this year and improve on their 2005 fourth place
finish in the East.
Seneca
2005 Regular Season Record: 1-3-3 (6th – East)
2005 Post Season Record: DNQ
Championships Won: 2
Second year head coach Matt Thomas is hoping to lead his Seneca
team to the playoffs this year after finishing sixth in the East
last season. The Stings last appearance in the post season was in
2002-03. For the Sting to get back into the top four and secure a
playoff spot, they’ll need to find consistent offense and
match some of the consistent defense they displayed last year. The
team will have to avoid the amount of tied games they tallied last
season, a total of three-tied-games seriously hindered the Stings
chances of making the playoffs. The Sting will kick off their
season at home as they host the Loyalist Lancers this weekend on
September 16 at 2:00pm.
St. Lawrence K
2005 Regular Season Record: 1-5-1 (7th – East)
2005 Post Season Record: DNQ
Championships Won: 1
The Vikings are looking to rebound from a disappointing 2005 season
with a new attitude in 2006. Third-year coach Ian Armitage welcomes
three new assistant coaches to his squad who he hopes will help
lead many newcomers to the squad in a rebuilding year for the
program. Tammy Whitehead and 2005 All-Star Brittany Wesley lead
only seven Viking veterans back to the pitch. This Vikings have
failed to make the playoffs in the last five years and hope to
climb the East Region standings and contend for a playoff
position.
Fleming P
2005 Regular Season Record: 4-2-1 (3rd East)
2005 Post Season Record: 0-1
Championships Won: 0
The Fleming Knights Women’s Soccer Team has been getting
closer over the last few years to winning its first ever OCAA
Women’s Soccer Title. The Knights put together an excellent
string of victories in 2005 and finished third in the east and lost
in the qualifying game. This year, the Knights look promising again
and are looking to carry over their momentum built from the last
three seasons into 2006. Fleming opens its schedule in Oshawa as
they travel to take on the Durham Lords September 19 at 6:00pm.
WEST REGION
Cambrian
2005 Regular Season Record: 2-4-2 (7th – West)
2005 Post Season Record: DNQ
Championships Won: 0
If the 2006 Cambrian Women’s Soccer Team starts like it did
last season, they will be in contention entering the last month of
league action. Last year, the Golden Shield got off to a great
start in their first five games with a 2-1-2 record going into the
last month. This year the Golden Shield hope to contend from start
to finish and grab a playoff spot to compete in the Championships.
Cambrian opens their 2006 schedule on the road this weekend as they
face off against the Lambton Lions September 16 at 1:00pm.
Conestoga
2005 Regular Season Record: 0-7-1 (9th West)
2005 Post Season Record: DNQ
Championships Won: 2
After winning back-to-back titles in 1991-92 and 1992-93 the
Conestoga Condors have been in a slump as they’ve failed to
qualify for postseason action in ten years. In order to make the
playoffs and climb the West Region standings the Condors must
tighten up on defense after allowing in 35 goals last season. The
Condors have a tough opening draw as they open the season at home
September 14 home against the 2005 silver medallist Sheridan
Bruins.
Fanshawe
2005 Regular Season Record: 7-1-0 (1st West)
2005 Post Season Record: 3-0 (Gold)
Championships Won: 5
By all accounts, the 2005 season was a special one for the Fanshawe
Falcons. They picked up their fifth gold medal and made history,
continuing to lead the OCAA with the most women’s soccer
championships. Rookie forward sensation Melissa Eli was an
offensive powerhouse picking up Rookie of the Year honours and the
West Region Scoring Title with an average of 1.12 GPG. If
that’s not enough, the Falcons were lead by Coach of the Year
Eva Havaris and were awarded for their defensive efforts by winning
the Top Goalkeeper award. The Falcons closed out last year’s
season with a 5-game unbeaten streak, and outscored the opposition
28-3 over the stretch of the season.
The Falcons are looking to another prosperous season under Coach
Havaris’ reign this season. Depth will likely be the strength
of the 2006 edition of the Falcon team, as 12 players return from
last year’s Championship squad. Led by 2005 West Region
Scoring Champion Melissa Eli the defending champions should once
again be a productive goal-scoring team. Setting the anchor for a
strong backline is 2005 All-Star and team captain Emily Costello
with newcomer Alicia Gomes while returning goalkeepers Ahley
Strocki and Carly Warner will mind the nets.
Humber
2005 Regular Season Record: 4-3-1 (4th West)
2005 Post Season Record: DNQ
Championships Won: 3
Looking back for a moment, the Hawks program enjoyed one of their
best seasons three years ago when they strung together three
consecutive championships from 1999-00 to 2001-02. Since then the
Hawks have been unable to continue their winning ways, last year
the team finished fourth in the regular season and lost in
quarterfinal action failing to make the championships.
Lambton
2005 Regular Season Record: 3-4-1 (6th – West)
2005 Post Season Record: DNQ
Championships Won: 0
The Lambton Lions improved their record from last season and almost
qualified for the OCAA Women’s Soccer playoffs with a 3-4-1
record. Lambton entered the final two games of the season with a
3-2-1 record but faltered down the stretch losing their last two
games by a combined score of 14-5. The Lions must be more
consistent in 2006 to in order to reach the playoffs. The Lions
open their season against the Cambrian Golden Shield on Saturday,
September 16 at 1:00pm in Sarnia.
Mohawk
2005 Regular Season Record: 5-2-1 (3rd West)
2005 Post Season Record: 2-1 (Bronze)
Championships Won: 1
Mohawk College Head Coach Renzo Castellani enters the 2006 campaign
with optimism following a 2005 season that saw the Mountaineers
finish with a bronze medal. The team showed their post-season
competence by defeating a tough Algonquin squad in the
quarterfinals, dropping a close 2-0 game to Fanshawe in the
semi-finals and then defeated the early favourite Durham Lords 2-1
in penalty kicks to win the bronze medal.
The 2006 campaign brings an experienced and talented group of
Mountaineers to the table under 13th-year head coach Castellani and
10 returning players. Mohawk possesses a quartet of veterans
including League All-Stars Ali Bettger and Tara Bonitatibus,
Mohawks leading scorer last season Andrea Bonitatibus and defensive
standout Amanda Celeste. The Mountaineers hope to better their 3rd
place West region finish this season and win another medal at this
year’s Championships.
Redeemer
2005 Regular Season Record: 0-6-2 (8th – West)
2005 Post Season Record: DNQ
Championships Won: 0
The Redeemer Royals are looking to improve this season and work
their way into the thick of the OCAA playoff race. This season the
Royals plan on making a move up in the West Region standings behind
2005 OCAA All-Stars midfielder Rachel DeGroot and striker Cheryl
Beishuizen. The Royals have plenty of opportunity this season and
are looking for incoming first year players, Kendell Straatsma and
Sonya VanGameren to fill out the roster and make for a competitive
team in the OCAA. The Royals open their 2006 season September 20th
at home vs. Fanshawe Falcons, the defending champion and a
perennial league playoff team.
Sheridan
2005 Regular Season Record: 6-1-1 (2nd West)
2005 Post Season Record: 2-1 (Silver)
Championships Won: 1
Last season head coach Paul Angelini and the Bruins enjoyed one of
their best seasons in program history since their 1984-85 Gold
Medal. Over the last couple of years the team has become a strong
contender in the West Region. Last season they proved their soccer
prowess finishing with a silver medal and knocking off the 2-time
champion, undefeated and top ranked Durham Lords in the semi-final
game of the championships. This year the squad looks to win their
first title in 22-years in front of a home field crowd as the
Bruins host the 2006 Championships from October 27-28. Headlining
the 10 returning players from last years squad are midfielders
April Leggett and Leanne Burke who led the Bruins in scoring last
season averaging 1 GPG.
St. Clair
2005 Regular Season Record: 4-3-1 (5th – West)
2005 Post Season Record: 0-1
Championships Won: 1
The St. Clair Saints enter the 2006 season with optimism following
a 2005 campaign that saw the Saints finish 4-3-1 overall and make
the playoffs for the first time since 1999-00. A trio of Saints
made up of second-year defender Jessica Wouters, second-midfielder
Alyshia Fox and third-year forward Christine Ross will be the
team’s source of experience for a roster that has a majority
of first-year athletes. Watch out for rookie Samantha Scherer to
make her mark and assist the Saints on the offensive end of the
field. With the Saints returning only five players from last
year’s squad, the team will need to mesh together and work on
their team chemistry on the field as quickly as possible. The
Saints have a tough draw as they open their season at home against
the tough defending champion Fanshawe Falcons on September 15th at
5pm.