2006 REGULAR SEASON STANDINGS
East (W-L-T)
Durham (6-0-1)
Algonquin (6-0-1)
Seneca (5-2-0)
Fleming, P (2-3-2)
St. Lawrence, K (2-3-2)
Centennial (1-5-1)
La Cite (1-5-1)
Loyalist (0-5-2)

West (W-L-T)
Humber (6-0-2)
Fanshawe (6-1-1)
Sheridan (5-0-3)
Mohawk (4-2-2)
Redeemer (3-4-1)
Cambrian (2-4-2)
Lambton (2-6-0)
Conestoga (0-4-4)
St.Clair (0-7-1)

2006 OCAA CHAMPIONSHIP
Gold: Durham
Silver: Algonquin
Bronze: Humber

THIS WEEK IN THE OCAA
Eight games are on the schedule this week, with action kicking off of Thursday when the Fleming Knights host the defending Champion Durham Lords at 5:00pm.

TEAM PREVIEWS

Durham College
2006 Regular Season Record: 6-0-1
2006 Playoff Record: 3-0 (Gold)
Championships Won: 4 (’97, ‘03, ’04, ’06)

If you are the Durham College Lords, this season is like shopping in your favourite store for yourself with someone else’s money. The team will return an astounding 17 players from their gold medal winning squad and have added depth to an already well built team with a strong rookie class.

All-Canadian and Women’s Soccer Player of the Year, Amanda Durno, (Forward) will lead the cast of veterans along with League and CCAA National Championship All-star, Kirsten Bodashefsky (Midfielder). Megan Durno (Defender), Katie Szeghalmi (Midfielder/Forward), Ashley Visser (Goalie) and Abbie Visser (Defender) will also provide leadership for the rookie class that will see Sarah Barrads (Striker), Ashley Micic (Defender) and Jen Lecourt (Midfielder/Forward) all compete for starting positions.

Vaso Vujanovic will assume his duties as head coach for his ninth season and will have lofty goals of which include finally capturing the CCAA National medal that has eluded the team in four previous trips. Although the team has been dominant during the 2000s, only one OCAA women’s soccer team has ever captured a national medal (Humber bronze ‘2000).

Algonquin College
2006 Regular Season Record: 6-0-1
2006 Playoff Record: 2-1 (Silver)
Championships Won: 3 (’85, ’86, ’02)

Hosting the provincial championship this year may be the push the Algonquin Thunder needs to knock off the defending champions and regain the Provincial title.

With nine players returning from the silver medal team including five starters, captain Lauren Alexander (Stopper), Sarah Macdonald (fullback), Allie Brown (fullback) and MVP, top rookie scorer, all-star and nine goal scorer, Sam Blais (forward), coach Garth Gittens (12th season) will have a solid base to develop this team into a serious championship contender.

Key rookies who will be added to the veteran mix will be midfielder, Ally Pross and forward, Jen Groleau, both of whom should compete for significant playing time in helping the team improve on their 6-1-0 record.

Humber College
2006 Regular Season Record: 6-0-2
2006 Playoff Record: 2-1 (Bronze)
Championships Won: 3 (’99, ’00, ’01)

The Humber College women’s soccer team is showing all the signs of a team that will battle for the provincial championship and a spot in the national championship tournament this season. Coming off a bronze medal performance and an upgrade to silver at the indoor event in March, the team has a strong list of returning players and the strongest recruiting class in years.

All-stars Melissa Migliazza and Joanna Alexopulos return and will form a significant tandem whenever on the field. An influx of skilled strikers, including league leading scorer of 05’ Connie Tamburello, should provide the Hawks a consistent offensive attack. Humber led the league in defense last year and should be just as stingy with the addition of solid defenders and a top notch keeper.

Humber will once again be led by co-head coaches Vince Pileggi and Mauro Ongaro. The 2006/07 OCAA Coaches of the Year will be looking to secure their fourth OCAA title in the last 10 years.

Look for the Hawks to defend their 2006/07 Central West Regional Championship and move on to the OCAA Championship Tournament as one of the favourites. A shot at a CCAA National Championship medal may also be well within their grasp.

Fanshawe College
2006 Regular Season Record: 6-1-1
2006 Playoff Record: 1-2
Championships Won: 5 (’89, ’93, ’94, ’96, 05)

The Fanshawe Falcons are hoping to rebound in 2007 after a disappointing OCAA Championship performance last season. The Falcons were soaring into the Championship on a six game unbeaten streak, but had two tough games losing to Durham 3-1 in the semi-finals and 2-0 to Humber in the bronze medal game. First year head coach Martin Painter will look to have the Falcons return to the gold medal game when the Championships take place in Ottawa in October.

A staple of Falcon women’s soccer has been the strong play of their midfielders. The Falcons will continue to rely on their expertise to dictate the pace of the game and maintain ball possession. The Falcons will also continue to look to their veteran talent for leadership this upcoming season.

Cambrian College
2006 Regular Season Record: 2-4-2
2006 Playoff Record: did not qualify
Championships Won: 0

After opening the 2006 campaign with a pair of wins, the Cambrian Golden Shield struggled down the stretch, not being able to pick up another win and missing out on the playoffs finishing in sixth place in the West Region. With the Golden Shield switching Regions this season, Cambrian will be in tough early on this season as two of their first three opponents were post season qualifiers is 2006 (Algonquin & Seneca).

In order make some noise in the always tough East Region, the Golden Shield will need to pick up their offensive attack. In eight games last season, Cambrian was only able to muster 4 goals. With a couple of key freshmen entering the lineup, soccer fans in Sudbury anticipate this goal total to skyrocket.

Centennial College
2006 Regular Season Record: 1-5-1
2006 Playoff Record: did not qualify
Championships Won: 0

Centennial had a setback last season as they recorded one victory, compared to three in 2005. The Colts were unable to generate any type of offense last season as they registered a league low two goals last season. Team speed and ball control are two keys for a better offense this season. With two titles in the past three years in Indoor Soccer, fans of Centennial College are hoping that it will translate into wins on the outdoor scene.

La Cité collégiale
2006 Regular Season Record: 1-5-1
2006 Playoff Record: did not qualify
Championships Won: 0

One thing is certain this season for the La Cité Coyotes women’s soccer team…change. With only six players returning to the Coyotes team, it will be a challenge for second year Head Coach, Donald Bouchard, to get this team to bond early on in the season.

The staff has recruited several young players to add talent and depth to the team and hope their hard work pays off with an improvement on last year’s 1-5-1 record.

Loyalist College
2006 Regular Season Record: 0-5-2
2006 Playoff Record: did not qualify
Championships Won: 0

Mike Whitehead enters his eighth season patrolling the sidelines as Loyalist head coach. The Lancers have a good crop of returning players including midfielder Heather Armstrong and defenders Jess Wood & Kerri Leitch. With a mix of veterans and key freshmen, the Lancers are hoping to get back in the playoffs as they did in 2005.

The Lancers goals totals drastically dropped from their last playoff season as they scored four goals in 2006 compared to eleven in 2005. Defense was also a problem for the Lancers as they allowed the second most goals against with 21. The Lancers must improve on these totals if they hope to return to the post season.

St. Lawrence College – Kingston
2006 Regular Season Record: 2-3-2
2006 Playoff Record: did not qualify
Championships Won: 1 (’87)

The St. Lawrence Vikings were victims of the tie-breaker as their 2-3-2 record matched the fourth place Seneca College, but an early season loss to the Sting caused the Vikings to miss out on the post season. Head coach Ian Armitage will hope his veteran loaded team will make the next step and qualify for the post-season in 2007.

Twelve players from last year’s squad will take to the pitch this year, putting the disappointment of last season behind them. 2006 League All-Stars Holly Vlaming and Martina Compeau return to the lineup along with Amy Lauzon, Justine Hains, Angela Agostinelli and Lindsay Molleson. Key recruit Michelle Charest will also join the team, which may push the Vikings into the playoffs. Other teams in the East Region better watch as the Vikings may “sail” under the radar.

Seneca College
2006 Regular Season Record: 5-2-0
2006 Playoff Record: 0-1
Championships Won: 2 (’90, ’95)

Head coach Matt Thomas returns his third season with Seneca College after taking took a major step forward last season, posting solid record and earning a playoff berth against the Fanshawe Falcons.

In a preview to the 2007 team, the Sting won the St. Clair kick-off invitational tournament recording a 2-0-2 record, not allowing a single goal in four games. Team defense will be an important factor if the Sting hope to move up the standings and into the OCAA Championship in Ottawa, holding off competition in the always tough East Region. Seneca will have an important first match as they travel to Kingston to lay the up and coming St. Lawrence Vikings in their season opener on September 15th.

Fleming College – Peterborough
2006 Regular Season Record: 2-3-2
2006 Playoff Record: 0-1
Championships Won: 0

In 2003 Algonquin College hosted the Provincial Championship and Fleming Peterborough found themselves on the podium claiming the bronze medal in OCAA Women’s Soccer. Four years later, the Knights will look forward to returning to that familiar site in an attempt to duplicate that winning performance.

If the team from Peterborough wants to get back to the previous level however, they will need to improve on their goal scoring numbers after finishing last season with a minus one goals for/against ratio. With only two multiple goal scorers on the team in 2006, the Knights had plenty of options and it was that balanced attack that carried them into a quarter final playoff position of which they heartbreakingly dropped 1-0 to Humber. A balanced attack and consistent defense will be necessary if they want to advance past the quarter finals this season and they are certainly capable of returning to the podium in 2007.

Dave Mitchell will again be at the controls and will have his team ready to go in their opening match verse the defending OCAA Champions Durham College Thursday.

Conestoga College
2006 Regular Season Record: 0-4-4
2006 Playoff Record: did not qualify
Championships Won: 2 (’91, ’92)

Unable to post a tally in the win column in 2006, the Condors of Conestoga led by Coach Aldo Krajcar, will strive to right the ship that is the women’s soccer program. With four losses in regular season play in 2006, the Condors did manage to hang in some games posting four draws; most notably against Sheridan, a playoff qualifying team. Only scoring four goals last season did not help their cause, but with a little more offence, this team may be heading in the right direction.

Lambton College
2006 Regular Season Record: 2-6-0
2006 Playoff Record: did not qualify
Championships Won: 0

The Lambton College women’s soccer program looks to qualify for the post season in 2007, after missing out last season. The Lions have made improvements to their defense as they only allowed one goal in four games in the St. Clair Kickoff Invitational tournament this weekend. The Lions allowed over 2 goals per game in 2006, and this must improve if the Lions hope to make the playoffs. Head coach Kevin Simmons will have the task of finding a way to put the ball in the back of the net. The Lions only scored 5 goals last season, three of which came against the St. Clair Saints in the season finale

Mohawk College
2006 Regular Season Record: 4-2-2
2006 Playoff Record: 0-1
Championships Won: 1 (’98)

Head coach Renzo Castellani will rely on a young squad mixed with a few returning players if he hopes that his 14th year with Mohawk is a success. Only four players return to the Mountaineer lineup which includes midfielder Ali Bettger, forward Amanda Edmonds, and defenders Rachel Vinet and Michelle Vanandel. Ali Bettger has excelled with the Mountaineers earning two League All-Star awards in her first two seasons with the team.

Mohawk hopes to earn a berth back into the playoff round as fell to the 2006 Champion Durham Lords in the quarter-finals. Team speed will be essential with all of the freshmen on the pitch. Look for Mohawk to challenge for the region title this season, even with such a young lineup.

Redeemer University-College
2006 Regular Season Record: 3-4-1
2006 Playoff Record: did not qualify
Championships Won: 0

Getting back to the playoffs will be the common goal of the season for the Redeemer Royals in 2007. Returning nine players to the squad, Head Coach Krista Girolametto will have some work to do if they hope to reach their destination.

Going a long way in helping their cause will be the return of upperclassmen Phoebe Mitton (striker), Miriam Vandenberg (midfielder) and Cheryl Beishuizen (Striker) all of who were top offensive contributors in the 2006 season. Slotted to compliment the trio will be a duo of rookies in Brett Vanderberg and Emily Woudstra. The pair will debut at the midfield positions.

St. Clair College
2006 Regular Season Record: 0-7-1
2006 Playoff Record: did not qualify
Championships Won: 0

Getting to the playoffs is the ultimate goal for the St. Clair College Saints who posted a 0-7-1 record in 2006. In order to turn their season around form a year ago, they will need to look for some senior leadership of which they should find in four returning players including midfielder Alyshia Fox.

To compliment the returnees, Head Coach, Dan Docherty has added Michelle Laliberte, a rookie forward who is strong on the ball, to the lineup. She should see significant playing time and hopefully make an immediate impact in helping the Saints climb the standings of the West division.

Sheridan College
2006 Regular Season Record: 5-0-3
2006 Playoff Record: 0-1
Championships Won: 1 (‘84)

Fourteen year veteran coach, Paul Angelini, will have four familiar faces on the pitch when his lady Bruins start the soccer season. Goal Keeper, Sandra McKeen and Midfielder April Legget will be the veterans of the team responsible for calming a team on the upswing of a rebuilding process. Last season, the Bruins qualified for the Provincial Championship, but were ousted by the eventual silver medalists in their quarter final match-up.

This season, the team has recruited some depth and will inject several youthful bodies into the lineup including Lianne Davies (midfield), Chelsea Edwards (Defender), Fiona Sinanan (Centre/Forward) and Amanda Pizzuro (Centre/Back). All of these newcomers will be counted on to contribute to their 2007 play-off run and hopefully come home with a medal this season.