Archive for Laval Comets
W-League Picks Its 2009 All-League Team
W-League All-League Teams unveiled
United Soccer Leagues announced the second set of honors for the 2009 W-League season, unveiling the All-League Team and Goalkeeper of the Year honors as well as the finalists for the U-19 Player of the Year, Defender of the Year, Coach of the Year and MVP awards as voted on by the league’s coaches and general managers.
W-League 2009 All-League Team
Goalkeeper of the Year – Michelle Betos (Atlanta Silverbacks)
In her first season in the league, Betos helped lead the Silverbacks to the regular season division title with a 10-1-1 record, posting a mark of 9-1-1 herself. She finished second in the league in goals against average at 0.188 and in shutouts with nine. She also was tied for second in wins.
Defender – Ashleigh Gunning (Hudson Valley Quickstrike Lady Blues)
Having previously played for Cocoa and Charlotte, Gunning provided a veteran presence for the upstart squad as they went on to post an unbeaten 12-0-2 regular season record and capture the league’s regular season title. Hudson Valley allowed just nine goals in 14 games with Gunning seeing action in 13. She also provided two goals and two assists in the attack.
Defender – Ria Percival (Ottawa Fury)
After a brief taste of W-League action with FC Indiana last year, Percival moved north of the border to join the Fury and help guide the club to an 11-1-2 record with only nine goals allowed. She appeared in all 14 games, playing every minute and providing five assists on the year.
Defender – Brittany Taylor (Hudson Valley Quickstrike Lady Blues)
In her debut season in the league, she helped guide the team to an unbeaten 12-0-2 season and capture the league’s regular season title. In the nine games she played, Taylor was a threat in the attack, coming forward for three goals on the season.
Midfielder – Gemma Davidson (Chicago Red Eleven)
After spending 2008 with New York, Davidson helped lead the Red Eleven to a 10-1-1 record on the season, finishing just one point back of unbeaten FC Indiana in the division race. She played in eight games on the year, tallying six goals and two assists.
Midfielder – Michelle French (Seattle Sounders)
A five-time All-Conference selection, French is still one of the top players in the west and had the Sounders on the verge of the postseason before their final winless three-game trip to California. She played in all 12 games and provided four goals and an assist.
Midfielder – Rosa Tantillo (Buffalo Flash)
Playing in a tough division, the expansion Flash finished second with a record of 9-2-3 on the year. Helping lead the way was Tantillo, a member of last year’s champion Pali Blues. She saw action in all 14 games and provided eight goals and two assists in the campaign.
Midfielder – Nikki Washington (Pali Blues)
With many of its top players gone from the 2008 championship side for Women’s Professional Soccer, Washington stepped in and helped lead the Blues to another unbeaten season at 9-0-3 and a second straight conference title. She tallied five goals and two assists in nine games on the campaign.
Forward – Laura Del Rio (FC Indiana Lionesses)
The 2008 league assist leader captured the scoring titles she narrowly missed out on last year by finishing the campaign with 18 goals and four assists. She helped lead the side to the league’s best offensive output of 63 goals and a 10-0-2 record, coming up just shy of the regular season title.
Forward – Amber Hearn (Ottawa Fury)
With 13 goals and two assists on the year, Hearn helped lead the Fury to an 11-1-2 record and the division title. She was tied for fourth in the league in goals and sixth in points.
Forward – Angelika Johansson (Hudson Valley Quickstrike Lady Blues)
Johansson was a key component in the club’s attack en route to winning the regular season title with a record of 12-0-2 and 40 goals. The striker found the back of net 14 times and provided eight assists, finishing second in the league in points, tied for second in goals and tied for third in assists.
W-League 2009 Individual Honors
In addition to the previously announced statistical award winners and the Goalkeeper of the Year, four other top individual honors are still to be announced. The winners of the awards will be announced Wednesday, August 5 from the following finalists in each category:
Defender of the Year Finalists
The three All-League selections Gunning, Percival and Taylor are the finalists for the honor.
U19 Player of the Year Finalists
The finalists for the award are Sarah Chapman (Tampa Bay), Chante Sandiford (Washington) and Fortuna Velaj (Connecticut).
Coach of the Year Finalists
The finalists for the award are Tony Anglin (Chicago), Fabien Cottin (Quebec City), George Fotopoulos (Tampa Bay) and Jesse Kolmel (Hudson Valley).
Most Valuable Player Finalists
The finalists for the award are Laura Del Rio (FC Indiana), Amber Hearn (Ottawa) and Angelika Johansson (Hudson Valley).
W-League 2009: Ottawa In, Toronto Out, Vancouver Out
The Ottawa Fury Women (10-1-2) clinched their 6th consecutive division title after a 1-1 draw against the Buffalo Flash (8-2-3). Anna Caniglia put the Fury ahead after 20 minutes, but Maria Ruiz pulled Buffalo even late in injury time after being award a questionable penalty kick.
In their last meeting on June 12 Ottawa came out 1-0 victors, an outcomes that almost repeated itself again. Both teams came out hungry early keeping the defenders of both sides on their toes. Ria Percival lofted in a free kick in the 20th minute which Michelle Evans rifled off the crossbar and Anna Caniglia headed home. The Fury continued to press after the goal, but Buffalo countered with several rushes of their own and almost drew even when Pamela Conti’s header hit the crossbar and stayed out. Before the half was out Michelle Evans was also denied by the crossbar after she curled a free kick in on goal from 20 yards out.
Leading after 45 minutes the Fury continued to generate chances early and the games tempo continued to rise. Maria Ruiz found herself alone in front of goal in the 74th minute but fired over the bar after several minutes of Buffalo pressure. The Flash were awarded a penalty kick deep into injury time much to the dismay of the Fury players and coaching staff. Maria Ruiz who had be unlucky all evening long pulled Buffalo even and helping their chances at 2nd place if they can manage at least a draw against Laval tomorrow.
The Fury Women close out the regular season tomorrow against Rochester (0-12-1) and will begin the playoffs next Saturday at a location to be announced.
Next Game
vs Rochester Ravens
Sunday, July 19 at 6pm
Algonquin College Soccer Complex
Vancouver Whitecaps
Vancouver Whitecaps FC women concluded their W-League season on a down note Sunday afternoon, losing 4-1 away to Real Colorado Cougars.
Full Story
Toronto Lady Lynx
The Toronto Lady Lynx capped off their 2009 season with an exclamation point this afternoon, routing the visiting Quebec City Amiral 2-0.
Full Story
Other Canadian Action
Ottawa vs Rochester 7:0
Hamilton vs London 3:0
Buffalo vs Laval 2:1
Fury Back On Track
The Ottawa Fury Women (10-1-1) made a major statement on Wednesday night with a 5-1 victory over the Laval Cometes (7-5-1) to get back on track after a recent loss to Toronto. The women looked like their old selves in the first half netting five goals which pushed that back into top spot in the Great Lakes Division and eliminated Laval from playoff contention.
Amber Hearn brought a crowd of over 400 at the Algonquin College Soccer Complex to their feet with a powerful low strike at the near post to open the scoring in the 13th minutes. Hearn netted her second and W-League leading 12th goal of the season in the 27th minute off a Ria Percival corner as the Kiwi-connection put the Fury out to a much need two-goal lead. Six minutes later Katie Bethke netted her first goal of the season after a Ria Percival strike was blocked. The Fury continued their magic on set pieces in the 42nd minute when Jennifer Hance redirected an Anna Caniglia corner home for her fourth goal of the season. Early into injury time Caniglia did it all herself curling a corner kick inside the back post for her third of the season and a 5-0 Fury lead at half-time.
The Fury made many changes in the second half and continued their possession-based attack, but were unable to add anything further past Cometes keeper Marie Richelle Coulomb. The Cometes were missing six starters from their line-up who are currently at the Canadian Women’s U-20 camp. Former Fury W-League player and Youth Program graduate made a return to her hometown and factored into the outcome late into the game tallying her 11th goal of the season deep into injury time to ruin the clean sheet for the Fury.
Gillian Baggott, another graduate of the Fury Youth Program, made her Fury W-League debut entering into the game in the second half.
Next Game
Saturday, July 18th
vs Buffalo Flash
7:00 pm
Algonquin College Soccer Complex
Fury U15 Girls Perfect At Gothia Cup In Sweden
Team goes 3-0 in round robin of international youth soccer tournament, advances to knockout round
The Ottawa Fury U15 Girls have put their stamp on the 2009 Gothia Cup!
The cup, held annually in Gothenburg, Sweden, is one of the largest youth soccer tournaments in the world with more than 1000 teams from over 50 nations participating. The Ottawa Fury Soccer Club’s U15 Girls team coached by Don Bouchard travelled this past weekend to play in this year’s edition of the tournament, and were placed in a preliminary group with three Swedish sides.
Things started strongly for the girls on Monday, as they went out 2-0 victors over Åkersberga BK on goals from Lauriane Brissette-Lesage and Kristen Gilmour. They followed their early successes with a 3-1 win over Enköpings SK through two goals from Karina Fredette and one from Krista Wilson. Sitting 2-0-0 in their group and needing only one more win to guarantee their place in the knockout stages of the tournament, the Fury did not disappoint – winning their third match by an impressive 7-0 margin over Kvarnby IK through a Krista Wilson hat trick, a brace from Taylor Piovesan and goals from Kristen Gilmour and Brianna Boutziouvis.
The perfect round-robin record means the Fury now advance to the “A” pool finals and are seeded #1 overall. They will play Sävar IK at 9:50 am. Thursday morning, with the winner to play again at 2:35 pm.
