Women’s score 26 goals in four wins, one tie
By: Alex Quevillon and Steven Smeall
An early draw for the Algonquin women’s soccer squad may not have been what they were expecting, but a 1-1 tie at Seneca is the lone blemish in an otherwise-perfect season thus far.
Having cruised through their first two matches, winning by a combined score of 12-0, a tie wasn’t expected on Sept. 14 when the Thunder headed out on the road for the first time in 2013.
However, the Seneca Sting are the only other East Division team without a loss through the first three weeks of action. If the two schools hadn’t played each other so early on, there’s a good chance they would’ve both stayed perfect for the majority of the season.
Algonquin is now 4-0-1 having swept the weekend before the Seneca draw as well as the following weekend.
“For us it’s about setting standards,” said head coach Dom Oliveri in regards to his team’s dominating wins. “All season long, we have to have our own standards regardless of what the score is, and we have to hold ourselves accountable for those standards.”
Coming on board to help Oliveri is new assistant coach Robin Rushton, a prestigious player that represented Canada on many levels before going to West Virginia University.
Algonquin’s women were in mid-season form as they hosted Loyalist on September 7.
If it weren’t for Loyalist keeper Kaitlyn Sanford making 14 stops in the first half, Algonquin would have been able to run away with the game early on.
They found themselves tied at the half before a late outburst.
Forward Madison Sleigh had a pair of goals, while Ginny Cass and Samantha Disipio added two more markers en route to a 4-0 victory.
“They did a good job,” said Ruston after her first game as assistant coach. “It’s difficult when the opposing team packs it in. It starts to get packed inside the 18 (yard box) so we have to find ways to work around them.”
The performance was so one-sided that Algonquin put 28 shots on target. At the other end, Thunder keeper Jennifer Kelly only had to make one stop to preserve the shutout.
A day later, the women made sure to put away La Cité early.
Algonquin lead La Cité 4-0 at half time, and piled on with another four goals in the second half to coast to an 8-0 win.
Thunder midfielder and 2012 OCAA league all-star Jaymie Baldree quickly registered three goals. Forward Jesa Reda and midfielder Sylvie Avedissian each had a pair of markers while Cass scored for the second day in a row.
Algonquin had the luxury of playing a pair of bottom-feeders on Sept. 21 and 22 respectively.
The Thunder proved to be one of the top teams as they held George Brown to the perimeter while being able to put in five shots of their own to win their first game of the weekend 5-0.
They dominated the second half, playing mostly in George Brown’s zone, adding on three of their five goals.
That momentum continued on to the next day when they took on the Centennial Colts, a team that was winless heading into the game.
The Thunder made quick work of the Colts, dominating them for the first half, taking a 5-0 lead.
In the second half of the game, Algonquin started off slowly but got right back into the rhythm and was able to add on another three goals.
2012 all-star Jaymie Baldree leads the ruthless offensive attack with six goals to start the year.
Forward Kwanzaa Robest-Prescod scored her first two goals of the year against Centennial, while midfielder Amy Savage, midfielder Kelly Avalos and forward Kayla Marshall all have one marker on the year.
Forwards Ginny Cass and Jesa Rada, along with defender Samantha Disipio midfielder Sylvie Avedissian, have three goals apiece.
“We’re really happy with two wins (this weekend), but obvious we have to keep performing and keep building,” said Avedissian after the blowout win against Centennial. “The coach is always making sure we keep our shape and makes sure we play to our full potential.”
As for coach Oliveri, he likes the progress the team has made in the early going.
“It’s a work in progress for us. We’re still trying to implement our system as a coaching staff to the players,” he said.
“They’re starting to embrace the system and we’re seeing good progress. A lot of possession and a lot of trying to switch the play. We’re just trying to get better at it every day.”
If they somehow manage to get better than this, it should be another undefeated season for the women’s Thunder.