On a bright and sunny Saturday morning, the melodic sound of
birds singing and the gentle breeze blowing through the trees
are abruptly drowned out as the soccer field comes alive with
the grunts and roars of determined young athletes.
The Panhellenic Under-16 girls' squad hurl their bodies in
the air at practice, battling for ball possession. Two players
engage a loose ball with tremendous force. One gets knocked to
the ground. Yet they still smile as they shake off the dust
from their uniforms because they know the tough training is
going to help them go toe-to-toe with the best teams in Ontario
Youth Soccer League (OYSL).
"We have to prove ourselves by playing hard all the time to
beat the best," said midfield Jessica Porlier, 15. "The games
are fast paced with fast players and to stick with them we have
to play our best. We all have different strengths and play
hard. Whether we are hurt or not, we just keep going."
Coming off a solid 2005 campaign, in which they placed
seventh overall, they then won the 2006 OYSL Indoor Cup in
January, which injected the team with exuberance.
"It was a huge confidence booster," said head coach Giuseppe
Politi. "It shows everyone we are right there, competing with
the best teams in the province. Last year, we fell short of our
goal to finish in the Top 5 by only a couple of points. This
year, we will be fighting for that Top 5 spot."
A solid effort from start to finish from everyone is the
right formula for success.
"To place in the Top 5, we have to be more consistent," said
Politi. "We always have to show up on game day. The Indoor Cup
proved whoever shows up to play can win. On paper, it doesn't
matter. You have to have the most heart and focus to win. If we
bring all that all year, we'll be fine."
Politi isn't worrying about his players buying into the
program.
"As a collective, our strength is dedication and
commitment," said the bench boss. "It comes from the players
and the players' parents. They stay committed to practicing all
the time and travelling 400 kilometres, one way, for an away
game. It's a reflection of their dedication."
The squad thrives on competing in the OYSL and think of it
as a stepping stone to the next level.
"They love the hard-fought battles with the best clubs in
Ontario...National champions have come out of the province,"
said Politi. "They also love the exposure. There's many
opportunities to play at a higher level, whether it be the pros
or post secondary."
The girls feel extra pressure, but are relishing the
prospects of being one of the top teams.
"The bar has been raised here," said 15-year-old striker
Morgan McCrory. "We set a higher standard when the team won the
Indoor Cup. There are a lot of people saying we can't make the
Top 5. We want to prove to a lot of people from down south that
they're wrong - that's our motivation."
To finance a two-week trip to Europe at the end of June, the
girls balanced their time between practising their game and
fundraising. The squad will play teams of similar calibre in
France, Italy and Germany.
"We will be in the atmosphere of the 2006 World Cup and it
will be a good experience for them," said Politi. "It's a good
reward for all their hard work over the years."
The U-16 season starts Saturday in Markham against Pickering and Oshawa. The girls will play 18 regular season games. Their first home game is slated for Sunday, June 4 against Mississauga at the James Jerome Field.
