Returning Royals Ready to Reclaim Title
The wait is over! Soccer season starts this week! For the women on the Royals’ soccer team it’s been an offseason of change. Gone are the veteran players who played a huge role in the team’s success last year.
By Davie Wong
The wait is over! Soccer season starts this week! For the women on the Royals’ soccer team it’s been an offseason of change. Gone are the veteran players who played a huge role in the team’s success last year. Marni McMillan, Tiffany O’Krane, Rebecca Mainardi, Danae Harding, and Kelsey Acaster are just some of the veteran players that left the squad during the offseason. But the preseason has proved that the Royals roster is more than deep enough in skill.
While the faces on the pitch come kickoff will be much different than last year, about half of the players on the roster are returning players. However, their roles within the team have changed dramatically.
Ellie Langr makes her return to the team, looking to play a large role and really give the coaching staff something to think about when picking a starting keeper. Joining her on defence will be second year defenders Sarah Strelau, and Grace Zacharuk. Strelau is expected to be a key member of the Royals backline, as well as play an essential part of distributing the ball on the transition. Zacharuk will be pushing for a much bigger role on the roster this year and looking to impress the coaching staff.
In the midfield, there will be plenty of options to choose from. Andrea Perrotta, Jasdeep Gill, and Chanelle Collins, will be just some of the familiar faces the Royals boast in the middle. Perrotta, who is coming off a year on the IR, has performed admirably this preseason, and is looking to be a sure bet for the first team.
Naomi Noda, who spent her first year as a defender, has been moved to a new position. While the transition has been tough, as it always is, Noda has shown she is more than capable of meeting the expectations of her coaches.
Mikayla Hamilton has the job that no one envies. She will be looking to fill the shoes of PACWEST’s top two goal scorers and provide the firepower that the Royals need. She looked promising throughout last year, and by the end of the season, had worked herself into the starting line-up at Nationals.
Last, but definitely not least, are the two captains of the team. With both of the former captains gone, the need for leadership is obvious. However, the coaching staff was more than ready for this year, and were well aware they would have to find two new captains.
Samantha Kell got the nod for one of the two armbands. Playing in the midfield, her consistent play, good communication skills, and knack for leadership made her the prime candidate, even last year. When put under leadership situations, Sam excelled, prompting the coaching staff to name her the next captain of the Royals.
However, one other player caught the attention of the coaching staff late into the season last year, and early into the preseason this year. Key defender Michelle Wessa also got the nod for captaincy, making her and Sam co-captains. Wessa, a fourth year player, brings the experience and veteran knowledge that the young Royals team needs to make a deep run. Her ability to earn the respect of her teammates through her game knowledge and effort on the field made her a standout candidate during the selection process.
Under the guidance of the two new captains, and the excellent coaching staff of Chris Laxton, the team will be looking to recapture PACWEST Provincial Gold for the second time in a row, to qualify for Nationals, and a shot at a National title.
You can come out and watch as they kick off their season on Wednesday, September 7th, at 6pm on Cunnings Field, against the Langara Falcons. They also play VIU in a gold medal rematch on Saturday at 1pm, and the visiting Quest Kermodes on Sunday at 12pm, both on Cunnings Field.
Come out and support the Royals as they look to start the season running!
