Showing improvement, in terms of their record or placement in the standings, will not be easy, this year, for the Laurentian Voyageurs women's soccer team.
Yet improvement in almost every sector of the pitch is exactly what head coach Rob Gallo and company are striving for. Such is the makeup of the team that is returning no less than twenty players from the L.U. squad that posted a record of 9-4-3 last fall, finishing second in the OUA East, and earning their first ever first round playoff bye.
Perhaps it is the sting of a tough 2-1 post-season loss to the Queen's Gaels, or the drive to reach the OUA Final Four for the first time since 2004 that is front of mind for the team and their coach.
"The struggle has been trying to find all of the pieces, goaltending-defense-midfield-forward, all at the same time," said Gallo. Laurentian enters the 2016 campaign well-armed in three of the four areas, but looking to fill at least one big hole.
The Voyageurs are hopeful that veteran keepers Dina Mandolesi and Caitlin McNamara, or possibly even local freshman Josée Scott, will step up and fill the large shoes vacated by Richele Greenwood, the "top keeper in the league last year", according to Gallo.
The good news for Laurentian is that all other areas offer depth, experience and plenty of skill. The back line returns a starting quartet of Heather Gilbert, Ally Pilon, Amy Fitzgerald and Megan Gallo, the first three of which have all earned all-star status during their time with the blue and gold.
There is no lack of second string options in the form of Sara Fitzgerald, Sydney Emmanuel, Victoria Galluzzo and others, with rookie Rachel Sheppard providing a strong push in the middle. "She's a 5'11" centerback, very calm in the back for a rookie," said Gallo last week.
"She's got all the tools. There are going to be some interesting battles." Similar story throughout the midfield, where the unexpected return of Megan Ferguson for her fifth and final year added strength to an area that was already rock solid.
Seniors Carlee Parisotto and Amanda Kwan are back, rookie Megan Chivotti is already showcasing a scoring touch, while the surprise of camp to date might well be sophomore Catherine Rocca.
"She is leading right now, playing with a lot of confidence, and her work ethic is second to none," said Gallo. The Voyageurs are anxious too see just how potent an attack they might boast, given the spectrum of varied talent that is led by the one-two punch of Sarah Sanford and Samantha Selkirk.
Collège Notre-Dame graduate Brianne Rodrigue made the jump from the high school ranks to the OUA last year with ease, especially once Gallo and staff figured how best to utilize her skill-set.
"We moved her out of the middle and to the wing, and she's a threat," said Gallo. And then there is highly recruited striker Mia Degasperis, who missed all of the 2015 season with a torn ACL, but seems no worse for the wear based on early signs to date.
"Even with a knee brace, she's lightning quick, and has finished a lot of chances." Throw in a little more depth in the form of Lindsay Hummelbrunner, and Gallo believes that his team might well have the ability to compensate for the loss of experience in net.
"I think we have the ability to break out and score 30 goals," said Gallo, providing a target the team has never reached. "That might be where we can get that next step, by finishing more."
"Having the majority of our team back bodes well," added Gallo. "Securing a playoff spot is important, and we've managed to do eight of the past nine years. Now we have to get that playoff win. That means getting through healthy, and being in a position to take things on.
"I think we're that type of team that has the ability and the drive."
Laurentian will open their 2016 campaign at home on Friday, Aug. 26, facing the Ryerson Rams at noon, before heading out on Sunday to face the University of Toronto Blues in the GTA.
