The Humber Hawk are set to take flight as the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association’s (OCAA) representative at the 2008 Big Kahuna/adidas Canadian Colleges Athletic Association (CCAA) Women’s Soccer Nationals hosted by Thompson Rivers University at Hillside Stadium in Kamloops, BC from November 4-8, 2008.

The five day event begins on Tuesday, November 4 with the CCAA All-Canadian Awards Banquet and play kicks off on Wednesday, November 5 and continues through Saturday, November 8. Humber will see its first action on Thursday, November 6 when they face the host Thompson Rivers University Wolf Pack. The Hawks take the field again on the 7th against the Grant MacEwan Griffens.

Humber comes into the championship ranked fourth in the country after winning the Provincial Championship for the first time since 2001 with a thrilling 2-0 victory over the Algonquin in the Championship final on October 29th. In the semi-final, the Hawks knocked off the two-time defending champions and reigning CCAA bronze medalist from Durham.

The Hawks lineup picked up plenty of hardware this season as Captain Joanna Alexopulos, a fourth-year defense from Mississauga, was named an OCAA League All-star and was also the West/Central West Defensive Player of the Year. She will also be honoured as an All-Canadian at the CCAA All-Canadian Awards Banquet. Alexopulos was not the only defensive player from Humber honoured this season as Nicole Carvalho was named an OCAA Championship All-star. In the net, Rose Mary Ormeno was named the OCAA Championship Top Goalkeeper helping lead the Hawks to the OCAA gold. She has been impressive all season recording 10 shutouts in 12 games and allowing just two goals all season.

Up front, the Hawks have plenty of scoring power led by Central West Scoring Champion Keyla Moreno. The Toronto native was the OCAA West/Central West Rookie of the Year as she averaged one goal a game. Other scoring threats come from League All-star Brittany Szcerbakow, Championship MVP Connie Tamburello and last year’s West Region Scoring Champion Holly Goddard.

Humber has been one of the top team in OCAA Women's Soccer posting a league record of 8-0-2 to go along with their three play-off wins. The Hawks were named the Top Defensive team in the Central West Region after only allowing two goals and shutting out their opponents in 10 games. The last time Humber competed at the CCAA National Championship was in 2001 and last medaled in 2000 with a bronze.

Ashley Docking of the Seneca Sting will join Alexopulos as the pair will be recognized as a CCAA All-Canadian. Docking, the OCAA Player of the Year, has also been nominated for the CCAA Women’s Soccer Player of the Year award to be announced at the banquet. Katie Szeghalmi of Durham won the award last year.

Seneca head coach Deesh Bhattal is in consideration for the CCAA Coach of the Year award. The last coach from Ontario to win this honour was Renzo Castellani of Mohawk College (Hamilton), who won it 1998.

The 2008 CCAA Women’s National Soccer Championship features the top six women’s soccer teams in Canada.

Women’s Draw:
1. Collège François-Xavier-Garneau - Québec (QSSF)
2. MacEwan College – Edmonton (ACAC)
3. Humber College – Etobicoke (OCAA)
4. Langara College – Vancouver (BCCAA)
5. Holland College – Charlottetown (ACAA)
6. Thompson Rivers University – Kamloops (BCCAA)

CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE:

Thursday, November 6
3:30 pm - Humber College vs. Thompson Rivers University

Friday, November 7
10:30 am - MacEwan College vs. Humber College

Saturday, November 8
9:30 am – Classification Game
10:00 am - Bronze Medal Game
3:30 pm - Gold Medal Game

HUMBER HAWKS ROSTER

00 – Rose Mary Ormeno
2 – Jordanna Langill
3 – Holly Goddard
5 – Laura Franklin
7 – Megan Ewing
8 – Joanna Alexopulos
9 – Bianca Barbieri
10 – Melissa Migliazza
11 – Connie Tamburello
12 – Hayley Green
13 – Leslie Quigley
14 – Nilda Correia
15 – Kimber Evans
16 – Sonia Rocha
17 – Crystal Camilleri
19 – Brittany Szcerbakow
21 – Keyla Moreno
23 – Nicole Carvalho
25 – Jessica Green

Coaching Staff:
Head Coach: Vince Pileggi and Mauro Ongaro
Assistant Coach: Adriana Finelli
Assistant Coach: Stephanie Wardell
Assistant Coach: Filomena Aprile
Therapist: Saul Behrman
Manager: Lynn Barry
Athletic Director: Doug Fox

For more information, including the latest news, results and developments within the 2008 CCAA Women’s Soccer Nationals visit http://www.soccernationals2008.com/english/index.html