Little Ladouceur lights it up

BY SCOTT HADDOW

When the St. Charles junior boys' soccer team is operating in unison, they work hard to get the ball to striker Brandon Ladouceur.

From the goalie, to the defenders to the midfielders and forwards, the boys make a concentrated effort to get the ball to the speedy striker.

This team effort is for a good reason.

Ladouceur is the league's premiere striker and can almost score at will.

He's as fast as a screeching bullet and his goal scoring touch is pure gold.

It's a deadly combination and when joined with the focused attack of the squad, it produces goals and plenty of them.
In the team's first seven games, Ladouceur had 11 goals and helped St. Charles forge a record of 6-1 and earn second place in the standings.

Ladouceur can be at full speed, frightening opposing defenders senseless, and lightly tap a ball past a goalie expecting a blistering shot.

Yet in a flash, from standing still, Ladouceur can launch a terrifying and accurate shot into the net as well.
It's common to see Ladouceur score at least one goal per game, if not two.

He finds his openings, engages his speed at full throttle and justifies his teammate's hard work by sneaking around a defence and ripping a goal.

Despite being one of the smallest players, if not the smallest player, in the league, Ladouceur is clearly one of the mightiest players on the fields.

Standing just five-foot-two and tipping the scales at a feather like 94-pounds, Ladouceur makes a big statement every time he steps on the field.

He will not be pushed around or intimidated. If he gets shoved to the ground in a mad scramble, he gets back on his feet just as quick and keeps pursuing the ball.

He's a relentless force, which has unleashed a goal-scoring storm on the league.

"I don't give one inch for bigger players," the Grade 10 student said. "It's not an issue for me at all. I like the harder competition."

Ladouceur played junior soccer last season, but managed just one goal in five games.

He has done a complete 180-degree turn on his approach to the game this season.

"He didn't have much luck last year," head coach John Sikora said. "Bigger kids were running him over. Now, he's gotten over the fear of playing the big boys and is doing great. He's a little guy for sure, but he plays big...really big. He's exceptional quick and has great balance. He has a great personality too...no ego. He comes everyday to compete."

Ladouceur's breakneck velocity gives his enemies fits. Many times, his opponents could be charged admission because they end up standing and watching Ladouceur weave his fast magic.

"Not too many players can handle his speed," Sikora said. "He also knows how to finish. He doesn't panic in front of the net and has a nice, clean finish. He's not afraid of anyone anymore and he'll find a way to get around or through opponents whether they're six feet tall or 10 feet tall."

Ladouceur is modest and gracious. Even though he leads the league in goals, he defects any accolades and puts the spotlight on his teammates.

"I have a great team helping me out," the 15-year-old said. "The team works very hard to get me the ball and then I try my best to score. I give all the credit for my season to my teammates."

Ladouceur will dive headfirst into wild scrums to get a loose ball. He zips into heavy traffic areas to sniff out a goal. He will do whatever it takes to get a tally for his team.

"This year...I have more confidence and that's the difference," the striker said. "I run as fast as I can and work as hard as I can."

Ladouceur reminds the St. Charles coaching staff of a former player, Samuel Pisani, who died in a boating accident on Ramsey Lake in June 2003.

"Brandon is a lot like Samuel was," the coach said. "Samuel was another small player who was fast and led the junior league in scoring. The city trophy is named after Samuel...we're all playing for that trophy. It means a lot to us at St. Charles."

Last season, St. Charles made the city championship final, but was blown out 9-1 by Lo-Ellen. The loss still stings and is a motivational mechanism for the team.

"We want to win the city championship this year because we got beat so bad last year," Ladouceur said. "We have to redeem ourselves. We can do it...we just have to stay healthy and keep working hard."

Soccer is Ladouceur's favourite sport. He's anxious to join the senior level next year and has plans to play past high school.

"I feel ready for the senior level and I can hardly wait to play in it," Ladouceur said. "I want to go as far as I can in this sport...go on to play it in university or college."