After a rookie campaign mixed with success and nagging injuries, Meghan Hoffberg is hoping to stay healthy and help deliver the Laurentian Lady Vees soccer team to victory on a national stage.
The coaches at LU say they were fortunate to acquire Hoffberg,
a native of Brampton, who has experience on the provincial and
national levels and was on winning teams in Oakville and
Dixie.
"When we recruited her, we knew we were getting one of the best
goaltenders in the province at the time," said Lady Vees head
coach Rob Gallo. "She could have picked any school."
Hoffberg said all it took was one visit to the LU campus and
she knew where she wanted to study and play for the next four
years.
"I visited up here and I really liked it. I came for a visit
and just fell in love with the school," said the second-year
concurrent education student.
"It was challenging because I got hurt a few times, and also
being away from home and in a new place. It was definitely
rewarding and going to the playoffs and being able to play was
good . . . it was a fun ride," Hoffberg said of her rookie
year.
In 2005-06 season, Hoffberg started four games for the Lady
Vees and finished the year with a 2-0-2 record, which is even
more impressive when you consider she only allowed two goals
and her two wins were shut outs.
Hoffberg, who calls herself a klutz, had her playing time
limited because of a pulled quad and abdominal muscle. Never
backing away from a challenge, Hoffberg admits she played hurt
most games, rather than idling on the sidelines.
"The U of T game that we played last year, after the game I
could barely walk," she said.
Gallo said it's this grit and determination that keeps his
goalie going and makes her one of the best in the province.
"She has the ability to be aggressive in net and read the game
. . . when she needs to make the big save, she stands on her
head and made some tremendous saves," Gallo said.
 "She's a strong technical goaltender who knows how to
control the net and knows how to control her defence.
"You have to be a tremendous shot blocker. You have to be very
confident in controlling the defence. She has no doubt in those
skills, She doesn't give any rebounds, she closes up balls
pretty quickly . . . she's a very good distributor of the
ball," he said.
At five-foot-seven, it doesn't look like Hoffberg blocks the
net very well but what she lacks in size, she makes up for in
agility and quick reflexes.
"She'll challenge anybody, even if they're six feet tall,"
Gallo said.
Hoffberg says she is aggressive on the field and thrives on the
pressure of being the last one back when opposing teams
attack.
"I think to be a goalie you have to be crazy . . . you actually
have to step in front of the hardest players shot. Growing up
with brothers, you grow up with a tough skin," she said. "Once
you get hit by the ball, you just aren't afraid of it
anymore." 
In four games for the Lady Vees so far this year, Hoffberg has
played four games in net, with two wins and two ties. She has
only allowed one goal and has a pair of shutouts. The Lady Vees
are in the hunt for a playoff spot.
"The playoffs definitely seem like they're in our future and
hopefully it'll be a long run," Hoffberg said. "The whole
team's goal is to make it to nationals in British
Columbia."
