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Laurentian soccer squad leaders Jen
Carbone, left, and Kristy MacKenzie, are pumped up for
the 2004 season, which kicks off this weekend at
home. |
The Laurentian University women's soccer team
kicks off their 2004 campaign with a three-game home stand,
which will be a pivotal launch pad for their Ontario Varsity
Athletics (OUA) season.
The team hopes the home stand will provide
them with the proper foundation to build a playoff team. They
played York University Saturday, and host the University of
Toronto today.
Last year, the squad went 1-7-2.
"I believe we will be a competitive team this
year as long as our key players stay healthy," said head coach
Rob Gallo. "We will battle for a playoff spot. We are focusing
on preparing for each game as a must win.
"Our first three games are at home and it's
critical that we go 3-0 as our next three games will be on the
road. With only a 10-game schedule, it's critical to go after
teams right off the bat."
Up front, the Lady Vees will rely on the
offensive talents of sophomores Marissa Izma and Becky
Franklin. As a rookie, Izma finished tied for 11th in OUA
scoring.
"Marissa is a hard working forward, she has
an excellent touch around the net and she possesses a hard shot
with either her left or right foot," said Gallo. "Becky has the
uncanny ability to find open players and create scoring chances
for Marissa. They work well together and force defenders to
make several adjustments during a game."
Another key component to the attack is Kristy
MacKenzie, who has excellent one-on-one skills, explosive speed
and is a threat to score when carrying the ball.
"I think the team has come together really
well," said MacKenzie. "The chemistry this year has already
been shown and we're going to be strong this year. We are
motivated to make the playoffs because that's our goal. We are
ready to step it up."
The midfield will be led by fourth-year
veteran Jolene Fournier, who quarterbacks the attack. Blessed
with terrific ball handling skills and great vision, Fournier
is instrumental in setting up strikers and wingers.
The midfield will welcome rookie Brittany
MacMillan from Winnipeg to bolster the squad.
"If our two preseason games are any
indication of her talent, than we have found a real gem," said
Gallo. "She's tenacious, speedy, skilled and has tremendous
leadership skills which are already surfacing on this
team."
The defence will be anchored by Sudbury's Jen
Carbone, Sally Parent and Melynda Roach and Newcastle's Sarah
Little.
"They have become a solid unit and will make
it very difficult for opposing forwards to get clear shots at
our net," said Gallo. "They are all physical defenders."
The bulk of the netminding duties will fall
on Katie McNamara. At five-foot-eleven, McNamara has great
range and will be counted on to make the big saves when
needed.
The team is confident after a disappointing
2003 season.
"It looks like we have a good team," said
Carbone. "We have more experience and the second year players
have come back working hard. There's
pressure to make the playoffs, but we're
going to take it one game at a time."
Overall, Gallo is impressed with the lineup,
but knows there's still work to do.
"We want to improve our touch around the
net," said Gallo. "Our chances to goal ratio has to improve. We
do create a lot of scoring opportunities,
and our new assistant coach, Walter
Michellutti, has been working with the strikers and midfielders
to improve."