August 13, 2009
SOCCER TRAINING CAMPS WITHIN SIGHT AT LAURENTIAN
SUDBURY, Ont. - The Laurentian Lady Vees and Voyageurs soccer teams are in their last days leading up to the opening of training camp. The teams will start on Aug. 22 and have two weeks to pick the squad before their opening game on Sept. 5.
Both the men's and women's teams head into camp with high expectations looking to improve on their third place finishes in the OUA East a year ago. The Voyageurs will play a 14-game schedule, last year posting a 6-5-3 record good enough for 21 points, two up on fourth place Trent and 11 behind second place University of Toronto. It was the Carleton Ravens who won the OUA East in 2008, a tough start for the Voyageurs in 2009.
Following the successful regular season, the Voyageurs hosted the Queen's Gaels in the first round of the playoffs where they come out on top 2-0, before falling to the Varsity Blues the next week 2-1.
"Training camp will be very competitive this year," said Voyageurs head coach Carlo Castrechino. "All positions will be up for grabs. We have a good core of new players coming in."
Look for the Voyageurs to be competitive in 2009 as they added two-time OUA all-star defender Dan Mazzuca, a transfer from Brock, as well former OUA all-star Dan Kier of Hamilton, Ont., who returns to the line-up after missing 12 games a year ago. Reigning OUA East MVP Scott Cliff will be back between the pipes for the Voyageurs.
"Our season's goal is to improve on last year's third place finish and secure a first round bye in the playoffs," added Castrechino.
The Lady Vees also found success during the regular season, gaining 27 points on a 9-5-0 record. They finished a single point up on Queen's and three shy of Ottawa, with U of T claiming the OUA East. Last year ended in heart-break for the Lady Vees as they lost in the first round of the playoffs on penalty kicks to the Ravens. The 2009 campaign returns to a 16-game schedule with the Lady Vees playing four games in eight days to start the year. They will also open the season against the Ravens at home, looking to exact some revenge.
"We need to get back into the playoffs and get past the first round," said head coach Rob Gallo. "We need to be blessed with fewer injuries to key players."
"We have to continue our hard work in each game and not take our solid regular season last year for granted."
The Lady Vees and Voyageurs will get the ball rolling with training camp opening on Aug. 22. Their season kicks off at home against the Carleton Ravens on Sat., Sept. 5. The women start at 12 p.m. while the men follow at 2:15 p.m. at the Laurentian Soccer Field. Follow the Lady Vees and Voyageurs as they stride into the season at www.luvoyageurs.com.
Source: Laurentian Voyageurs
Photo Credit: John Sabourin
Both the men's and women's teams head into camp with high expectations looking to improve on their third place finishes in the OUA East a year ago. The Voyageurs will play a 14-game schedule, last year posting a 6-5-3 record good enough for 21 points, two up on fourth place Trent and 11 behind second place University of Toronto. It was the Carleton Ravens who won the OUA East in 2008, a tough start for the Voyageurs in 2009.
Following the successful regular season, the Voyageurs hosted the Queen's Gaels in the first round of the playoffs where they come out on top 2-0, before falling to the Varsity Blues the next week 2-1.
"Training camp will be very competitive this year," said Voyageurs head coach Carlo Castrechino. "All positions will be up for grabs. We have a good core of new players coming in."
Look for the Voyageurs to be competitive in 2009 as they added two-time OUA all-star defender Dan Mazzuca, a transfer from Brock, as well former OUA all-star Dan Kier of Hamilton, Ont., who returns to the line-up after missing 12 games a year ago. Reigning OUA East MVP Scott Cliff will be back between the pipes for the Voyageurs.
"Our season's goal is to improve on last year's third place finish and secure a first round bye in the playoffs," added Castrechino.
The Lady Vees also found success during the regular season, gaining 27 points on a 9-5-0 record. They finished a single point up on Queen's and three shy of Ottawa, with U of T claiming the OUA East. Last year ended in heart-break for the Lady Vees as they lost in the first round of the playoffs on penalty kicks to the Ravens. The 2009 campaign returns to a 16-game schedule with the Lady Vees playing four games in eight days to start the year. They will also open the season against the Ravens at home, looking to exact some revenge.
"We need to get back into the playoffs and get past the first round," said head coach Rob Gallo. "We need to be blessed with fewer injuries to key players."
"We have to continue our hard work in each game and not take our solid regular season last year for granted."
The Lady Vees and Voyageurs will get the ball rolling with training camp opening on Aug. 22. Their season kicks off at home against the Carleton Ravens on Sat., Sept. 5. The women start at 12 p.m. while the men follow at 2:15 p.m. at the Laurentian Soccer Field. Follow the Lady Vees and Voyageurs as they stride into the season at www.luvoyageurs.com.
Source: Laurentian Voyageurs
Photo Credit: John Sabourin
