Lady Trojans gearing up for soccer season

By Chris Phalen

SAIT’s women’s soccer team is putting last year’s dismal performance behind them.

The Lady Trojans, who only won one game last year, are gearing up for the 2007-08 campaign, as pre season games are already under way.

“We have very high expectations this year,” said Rob Richardson coach of the lady Trojans.

“Scoring was a big issue for us last year, but I think we have some girls that can step up and fill those (scoring) roles,” Richardson said.

The loss of striker Kiera Savoie, who scored all but one of the Lady Trojans goals last year, is a big blow for a team that struggled greatly on offence.

However, second year playmaker Heather Irvine, who assisted most of SAIT’s goals last year, is expected to make the move to striker, and is expected to fill the gaps left by Savoie’s departure.

“This year we have a strong group of girls with great potential. Our last few exhibition games have proved that we can work together and I anticipate that we will only get stronger,” Irvine said.

Irvine commented that chemistry among the new faces on and off the field is already developing, and that no goal seems too lofty.

“Our team goals this year are to play an undefeated season, making provincials and hopefully moving on to Nationals,” Irvine said.

Irvine is a professional cooking major from Kamloops, B.C.

“Heather is a strong, aggressive, and smart player,” Richardson said.

Richardson is hoping that with last year’s game experience some of his younger players will be more comfortable in the ACAC, which could lead to more wins for the women’s squad.

“I am excited about two or three of our young players and the vets are looking forward to having new talent,” Richardson said.

Like a crafty coach, Richardson wouldn’t specifically name any up and comers, explaining that he didn’t want to inflate any egos.

Avery Harrison, the athletic co-ordinator for Trojan athletics, is hoping that with some extra scoring punch the ladies will have an edge in a predominantly defensive league.

“It is a big advantage for us to have some pure scorers on the team,” said Harrison.

“Especially since most of the game plans in the ACAC are defensive,” Harrison said.

The Lady Trojans are returning seven players, and have 11 rookies, but Coach Richardson is confident that most of the new girls cannot only meet the challenge of ACAC competition, but also excel at the college level.

“Cuts were hard this year because we had a lot of quality girls come out,” Richardson said.

A problem most coaches would love to have, and indicative of the improved talent pool at SAIT this year.

The team will open their season Sept. 16 against the Lethbridge Community College Kodiaks in Lethbridge, with their home opener on Sept. 23 against the Red Deer College Queens.

The team will be competing against teams from the south division of the ACAC during regular season, including Lethbridge, Medicine Hat, Mount Royal, and Red Deer.

Regular season will run until Oct. 21.

Sarah Bartlet, midfielder for the lady Trojans with a throw-in moving the ball down the field.